A team of US doctors led by cardiologist, Dr. Gary Stephens was in the process of completing the second open heart surgery in the country last night at the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI).

The team was eyeing two surgeries but up to press time it was unclear whether they were able to complete both. It was in October 2007 that the first open heart surgery was done locally at CHI.

Stabroek News was told that four patients are expected to have surgeries done during this leg of open heart surgeries. Patient, Richard Evans who was scheduled to have surgery last October is not among the second batch of persons listed. His condition is said to be improving slowly. The medical team on board at CHI is said to be from the Maimonides Medical Center and New York University, in the US.

Patient, Manmohan Singh was the first Guyanese to have open heart surgery here. He is recovering slowly.

CHI, which opened its doors nearly two years ago, had promised a comprehensive cardiac care programme which includes stenting, valve replacements, angioplasties and open heart surgery among other services.