The Untold Story of Cardiac Surgery in Pakistan.

Introduction

The history of cardiac surgery in Pakistan is often credited to various institutions, but a lesser-known and largely undocumented fact is that the first open-heart surgery in Pakistan was performed at United Christian Hospital (UCH) Lahore in the late 1960s by Dr. Donald E. Bowes, a Methodist missionary and thoracic surgeon.

Dr. Donald E. Bowes and the First Open-Heart Surgery

Dr. Bowes served at UCH for nearly a decade and was instrumental in advancing thoracic and cardiac surgery in Pakistan. According to Edger Banta Ram, a former administrator at UCH who worked there for 49 years (1960–2009), Dr. Bowes successfully performed open-heart surgery at the hospital well before other documented cases in the country. However, this milestone was not widely publicized, and over time, it faded from official records.

Mr. Banta Ram shared this remarkable story with me on January 15, 2017, shedding light on an overlooked yet significant chapter in Pakistan’s medical history. He also mentioned that there are no official records of this surgery except for the minutes of various hospital meetings, which are still present in UCH’s records.

How the History Was Overshadowed

A few months after Dr. Bowes’ surgery at UCH, a Pakistani Army colonel, also a thoracic surgeon, performed a similar procedure at CMH Rawalpindi. Through Army press releases and official recognition, this surgery was widely reported as Pakistan’s first open-heart surgery, eclipsing the groundbreaking work done by Dr. Bowes and his team at UCH.

Experimental Research and Cardiac Innovation

Dr. Bowes, along with a doctor from Samli Sanitorium, Murree Hills, conducted various surgical experiments on dogs at both UCH and Samli. These experiments contributed to advancements in cardiac surgery techniques in Pakistan.

Prominent Patients: Maulana A.Hamid Bhashani

Among Dr. Bowes’ notable patients was Maulana A.Hamid Bhashani, a political leader from then-East Pakistan. In the late 1970s, Bhashani required cardiac care, and Dr. Bowes was responsible for attaching a cardiac monitor to him. After Bangladesh gained independence, Bhashani again sought Dr. Bowes’ expertise, leading to arrangements for his treatment in Singapore, where Dr. Bowes traveled for his care.

The Decline of Cardiac Surgery at UCH

Following Dr. Bowes’ departure in the 1970s, UCH was unable to continue its cardiac surgery program due to a lack of specialized personnel. Eventually, the hospital donated its cardiac surgery equipment, including the Heart-Lung Machine, to Gulab Devi Hospital, Lahore, marking the end of UCH’s role in pioneering cardiac surgery in Pakistan.

Preserving the Legacy

This historical account, shared by Edger Banta Ram, who worked at UCH for nearly five decades, serves as a crucial piece of Pakistan’s medical history. While official documents may not exist, firsthand memories and hospital records from that era affirm the contributions of Dr. Bowes and UCH in the field of cardiac surgery.

Recognizing this forgotten chapter is essential in giving due credit to the pioneers who laid the foundation for cardiac surgery in Pakistan. Their work continues to inspire future generations of cardiac specialists in the country and beyond.