Lázaro Luis Herández Vergel. PHOTO: Manuel Castells

A senior nurse in a Cuban hospital, the first patient operated on at the Clinic with this new respiratory system, came to the Navarre center looking for a hospital outside his country where he could be operated on for a tracheal tumor that was difficult to access

The symptoms began with the appearance of respiratory symptoms that were repeated up to twice in the same month. "Initially I didn't think anything of it, I thought it was a viral infection or a common cold. The alarming symptom was a hemoptotic picture (expectoration of blood) that made me think of a more serious disease, tuberculosis or a tumor," says Lázaro Luis Hernández Vergel, 46, a senior nurse at the "Cira García" Central Clinic in Havana (Cuba). In view of these symptoms, he immediately went to the medical services of his city where he underwent a bronchoscopy that resulted in a conclusive diagnosis: "They detected a tumor in my trachea very close to the carina (bifurcation of the trachea into the bronchi). The histological programs of study gave as result that it was a myxoma (benign tumor). However, the place where it was located was very difficult to access, so it was difficult to operate on it in my country, despite the medical advances we have".

In the search for a hospital center outside his country, equipped with staff and adequate means to operate on him, he reached Clínica Universidad de Navarra.

That is how it was. And I have to thank the attention I received from the whole institution from the first moment to the last. We need many hospitals like this one in the world, at least one per country.

Did you know that you were the first patient to be operated on at the Clinic assisted with a state-of-the-art jet ventilator?

Yes, the specialist and the anesthesiologists who did the pre-surgery evaluation were really very ethical. They informed me of their intention to use a very cutting-edge technology. It was a very beneficial technique because a surgery with extracorporeal circulation presents greater risks for the patient than with this ventilation subject .

From your knowledge as a healthcare professional, what is your opinion of this new ventilation system?

I think this new equipment humanizes the surgery a lot because the operation time is shorter and the risks are lower. I think it made the team of anesthesiologists and surgeons more comfortable, confident and safe on work . Dr. Torre's team had to feel more confident. I can say that it benefits the patient a lot in terms of shorter operation time and reduced anesthesia risks.

This interview takes place one week after the operation, how are you feeling?

Very well, considering the short period of time that has passed since the surgery. I have hardly suffered any postoperative pain, only some small paresthetic discomfort (numbness), normal in this subject of incisions typical of a thoracic surgery, of a thoracotomy. The evolution has been very good and the last control bronchoscopy has corroborated that the sutures are also in very good condition and have not shown any complications. The evolution is very favorable.

After the initial shock of the diagnosis, how are you feeling emotionally?

I am very, very happy, first of all because it has been possible to remove the tumor, because the tumor is benign. I was already afraid that the size, the dimensions of the tumor would be much bigger and that even a tracheal prosthesis would be necessary, so that my life would have become much more limited. But in the end, none of this happened.

At 46 years of age and with a long career ahead of you, how do you see the immediate future back in your country?

I return to my country very happy, with the desire to join soon to work, although the doctor has told me that I still need to rest for a reasonable time.