Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - September 24, 1997, Winnipeg, Manitoba A6 Winnipeg free september mortality rate data presented at inquest Odim continues testimony during fourth week on stand by Alexandra Paul medical reporter mortality rates in Winnipeg were consistently higher for open heart surgery on Chil Dren than elsewhere in according to Hospital data submitted into evidence at an inquest the evidence also suggests that Winnipeg lacks the caseload to justify a paediatric cardiac program in the the new documents were collected by former paediatric cardiac surgeon Jonah Odim and show that from 1987 to babies who had the Riskiest open heart operations for severe congenital defects also ran the greatest risk of dying after surgery in dims mortality rates children died after open heart operations in 1994 were similar to mortality rates under the previous Kim from 1987 to according to the the Only year when survival rates markedly improved was in that 135 children were sent out of province for surgery a greater number than the average of 80 to 100 children who had surgery Dur ing any single year in the surgeries in a variety of including Montre Al and had survival rates two to three times higher than Winnipeg for the Riskiest at the same the mortality records were broken Down into risk categories based on groupings in a study from Harvard medical school where Odim the study published in 1994 the year Odim worked in Winnipeg concludes that paediatric cardiac surgery for congenital heart defects is so tech Nical and so risky it is better left to big Ger medical the risk of dying is much lower if the surgery is performed at an institution performing More than 300 cases concludes the study of hos Pital mortality after surgery for con genital heart defects by the childrens Hospital in Boston and Harvard med ical for example in of the 12 moralities under dims team were four out of five children who had the Riski est surgeries an Overall mortality rate of 80 per although the numbers in the Sample Are they correspond to other years under Duncan when he per formed High risk open heart proce prom 1988 to when Duncan did High risk the num Bers of surgeries were also Small but the mortality rates ranged from 50 per cent to 100 per depending on the by the Boston based on the same risk showed that of 37 mortality rates were lowest in Boston and California centres where surgeons with specialized teams did no fewer than 300 operations every the mortality rates were per cent for the highest risk opera the study notes that it is not Only the experience of the surgeon that makes the difference Between life and equally important is the expertise of cardiac intensive care staff including nurses and the Quality of diagnostic and postoperative the data supplied for 1995 shows doctors Here referred 135 children for surgery in other of that 11 children needed High risk surgery and Only three died a mortality rate of per compared to 50 per cent or higher in any Given year in in other risk Winnipeg fared in the simplest Lowrick cases that tend to be on older children who do not need open heart Winnipeg compared Well to the other Odim testified that he compiled the mortality records with Hospital data filed by health sciences Centre As Evi Dence before the inquest 18 months ago and supplied to him by his associate chief provincial court judge Murray Sinclair allowed the material to be identified As an exhibit on the condition Odim agree to reap Pear before the inquest for Cross examination at the request of lawyers representing other doctors and dims Ray argued the documents show that Odim has to be judged against the context of mortality rates in Winnipeg in the years the program offered paediatric cardiac it gives me a much clearer picture of what the adjusted mortality rate was in Winnipeg and where my mortality Falls in that Odim told who is now in his fourth week on the is expected to continue testifying until made to measure gel the 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How to spend Mil lion to revitalize their Donna Harrington is one of a dozen residents of the lord Selkirk develop ment area chosen to Tell City planners How they should spend Winnipeg development agreement funds to revitalize the City planners distributed knocked on doors and held Neighbour Hood meetings during August and Early september to try to round up 13 residents for the some were some were just there Are still some they told us they want to leave it in the hands of the said har when i heard i thought it was fair and said id like to join the Harrington is a single Mother on social assistance living in the devel Louis on Flora has been involved with Many Community groups in the area Over the he was part of the Core area initiative that built the Turtle Island Community but resigned from its Board because people we rent work ing until people can learn to work theres no Chance things can change he Tbs its just the select few who the dominance of meetings by the correction advertisement in 23 free press the Price for Winnipeg old country should have read we apologize for any inconvenience to our valued select few is a common complaint at intercity Harrington recently brought a Peti Tion signed by area residents to a Community social workers controlled the meeting and it ended up not being she she feels social workers too often Domi Nate meetings in the area and has pro posed they no longer attend meetings of the lord Selkirk tenants Assoc a unless specifically there were also struggles in the Spence neighbourhood when their group was formed five months people squabble Over who would represent the often in the inner City theres personality conflicts Between groups and an inability to work said Darren a resident and member of the when you scratch under the sur their inability to work together often goes Back to City Hall and the politics of through his work with citizens for crime Jack Terry is a resident with Strong connections with All the groups in the people sometimes get caught up in their own opinions and cant see the Good that others Are he we need to see the Good in each other and work together for a stronger the committee in the Spence neighbourhood has now put together a list of ideas for safety and once the list is final Public meetings Are planned to develop the the lord Selkirk group meets tomorrow at Turtle Island Community Centre at 7 residents in the area bounded by the car Selkirk Salter and main streets Are Luj Hwy 12f Stein Bash v r clearance of All and used memory ave ave ave Buick Cadillac Roo Balc local 926o451 pict hundreds of vehicles to Cho surom Toyota it Stew Nissan we 127 local 3266423 Opict 4759559 ;