Healing hearts in paediatrics: an interview with Dr Adolphus Chau.

Abstract

Hong Kong Medical Journal ©2019 Hong Kong Academy of Medicine. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Dr Adolphus Kai-tung Chau’s dedication to advancing paediatric cardiac interventions available in Hong Kong has been evident throughout his career. Dr Chau has served as a consultant at the Department of Paediatric Cardiology at Grantham Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital for 25 years, including 15 years as the Chief of Paediatric Cardiology. He has played a pivotal role in implementing new techniques at these hospitals. Dr Chau currently works closely as an interventional paediatric cardiologist with surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and allied healthcare professionals to ensure the best possible care for his patients. His time is also spent in research on longterm outcomes after interventional and surgical procedures and teaching and training younger generations of doctors, students, and nurses locally and abroad. As Chief of Service, Dr Chau oversaw many regional firsts in paediatric cardiology in Hong Kong, including the establishment of the first extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) programme. Among his many experiences, the introduction of mechanical circulatory support by ventricular assist device (VAD) for children is a bittersweet story that Dr Chau holds close to his heart. In 2001, an 11-yearold girl with dilated cardiomyopathy complicated by end-stage heart failure was placed under Dr Chau’s care. Without a heart transplant, the girl would rapidly succumb to her illness. Up to that point, paediatric heart transplantation had never been successfully attempted before in Hong Kong. Moreover, the number of suitable donor hearts for children was very limited. In his determined search for a way to save the patient, Dr Chau became aware of the VAD which could prolong the patient’s survival and act as a bridge to transplantation. The medical team identified a suitable device which had been developed at the German Heart Centre in Berlin, Germany. Unfortunately, the VAD was prohibitively expensive. Ultimately, in collaboration with the cardiothoracic surgeons, Hong Kong Heart Transplant team and with funding from the Children’s Heart Foundation (CHF), the VAD machine was made available for temporary use to save the dying child. Dr Chau quietly recalls the tragic fatal stroke that the young patient subsequently suffered 2 weeks later, as a complication of VAD treatment. Despite his relentless perseverance, the child he had so desperately tried to save passed away. However, his efforts were not futile, and Dr Chau saw the opportunity for advancement. This young patient had exposed the severe lack of lifesaving technology in Hong Kong needed by such children waiting for a heart transplant. A team of doctors, including Dr Chau, travelled to the German Heart Centre to learn more about VAD and afterwards established its use in Hong Kong. Dr Chau reflects that even though this was not a success story, this first experience was very useful in saving other children afterwards. In 2004, a paediatric patient who suffered from fulminant myocarditis survived through the use of the VAD. In 2009, Dr Chau collaborated with the Hong Kong Heart Transplant team and the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at Queen Mary Hospital for the first paediatric heart transplant operation in Hong Kong. by: Cherry Lam1, Natalie Cheuk2, Caitlin Yeung2 1 Year 5 (MB ChB), The Chinese University of Hong Kong 2 Year 4 (MB BS), The University of Hong Kong