Student gives heartfelt thanks to London medics for life-saving heart surgery

Rare disorder: Sofi Berresford, 26, had the operation at St Thomas’ Hospital
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Ross Lydall @RossLydall30 October 2018

A medical student underwent pioneering surgery at a London hospital after the main blood vessel from her heart expanded to twice its normal size.

Sofi Berrisford, 26, was diagnosed at birth with Marfan syndrome, a rare genetic connective tissue disorder she inherited from her father.

It causes serious heart problems and can cause the aorta, which runs from the heart to the chest and stomach, to stretch and gradually enlarge, risking a life-threatening rupture. Those with Marfan syndrome are typically tall, with long slender limbs, fingers and toes.

Ms Berrisford, who is 6ft 2in, was told this year that the diameter of her aorta had expanded to nearly 5cm — twice the healthy size. The Leeds university student underwent a procedure known as Pears (personalised external aortic root support) at St Thomas’ Hospital in Lambeth.

The operation involves fitting a personalised mesh sleeve over the enlarged aorta, so it is supported, does not grow larger and is protected from rupture.

Unlike conventional surgery, it can be carried out while the heart is beating. Traditionally, patients have a mechanical valve replacement then need to take blood-thinning drug Warfarin for life.

Her father Jim, who was undiagnosed until he had an aortic dissection aged 18, has undergone open heart surgery three times and takes the drug. Ms Berrisford, from Cheshire, said: “I have regular scans on my heart to check if my aorta has enlarged. It has always grown very slowly so it came as a shock when I was told it had grown significantly in the last year and I urgently needed to see a cardiothoracic surgeon. I always knew that heart surgery was on the cards but I didn’t realise it would be so soon.”

She spent a week in hospital following the surgery in July and recently returned to university, where she is in her fourth year. “Pears had a faster recovery time, less blood loss and a shorter operation time,” she said. “The care at St Thomas’ was incredible, it was second to none. I’ve got a small, neat scar and I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

She added: “My dad wishes that the Pears procedure had been around when he was younger.”

The operation was performed by Conal Austin, who said: “Pears has proven to be very successful since we started to offer it. Now we are one of the biggest centres for Pears in the world and I have carried out some of the most complex cases.

“The procedure has considerable advantages. It is wonderful Sofi has made a good recovery and returned to medical school. She can live her life without worrying about her aorta getting bigger, or the side-effects of taking Warfarin.”

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