Pioneer heart patient in select band of 6

By ANGELA GREGORY health reporter

One of the first patients to have pioneering heart surgery at Green Lane Hospital has become one of only six people worldwide to successfully receive a fourth heart valve transplant.

Gordon McShean, of Wellington, had his first life-saving heart surgery in Auckland 36 years ago.

His surgeon, Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes, was leading the world in heart valve transplants.

Mr McShean, then living in the United States, had read of Sir Brian's breakthrough work while working at Stanford University in California.

Sir Brian made medical history in 1962 by developing techniques to repair or replace diseased or badly functioning heart valves.

Glasgow-born Mr McShean had a weak heart following an infection after he contracted rheumatic fever as a 14-year-old. Doctors warned him he would not live past his 20s.

His response was to cycle around Scotland. "I've always been a bit of a fighter," he said.

Mr McShean had angina for years and in 1966, aged 29, was told he had only three months to live.

Recently married, he was not prepared to admit defeat, even though heart valve surgery was still at the experimental stage.

He took the risk and travelled to Auckland for what turned out to be a successful operation.

Mr McShean had two further operations, in 1972 and 1984, by which time he had moved to New Zealand to live.

Last week he had a fourth operation to replace the aortic valve. His surgeon said this made him one of just six people worldwide to have has so many successful implants.