Columnist Ross Gittins recounts his 44-day ICU stay after near-fatal heart infection requiring complex surgery
Consensus Summary
Ross Gittins’ near-death experience began during a Danube cruise when uncontrollable shaking led to a diagnosis of bronchitis that worsened into a severe infection spreading from his teeth to his heart. After returning to Australia, he underwent an 8-hour emergency heart surgery using an ECMO machine and multiple valve replacements, with a 30 percent failure rate. His 44-day ICU stay—far exceeding the typical four days—was marked by five cardiac arrests, a tracheostomy, and extensive muscle atrophy. Complications included peripheral neuropathy requiring leg braces and internal bleeding from conflicting blood thinners. Despite three failed rehabilitation attempts, he eventually relearned basic mobility. Gittins praises Australia’s healthcare system while critiquing bureaucratic inefficiencies, specialist silos, and the physical toll of prolonged hospitalization. His account highlights both the advanced medical interventions that saved his life and the systemic challenges patients face during recovery.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Ross Gittins underwent an 8-hour heart surgery called a 'commando procedure' or 'unidentified flying object' operation
- The surgery involved an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine costing up to $300,000 each
- Gittins spent 44 days in ICU after the operation, with his heart stopping five times during recovery
- He required a tracheostomy during treatment, which removed his ability to speak temporarily
- Gittins developed peripheral neuropathy ('foot drop') and lost 20 kilograms of muscle mass during hospitalization
- He was hospitalized at a major teaching hospital named after a long-forgotten royal with a failed assassination attempt claim
- Gittins was on holiday on a Danube cruise when symptoms first appeared in Budapest
- He was given two conflicting blood thinners (one being aspirin) that caused internal bleeding during rehabilitation
- Gittins required three attempts at rehabilitation before successfully leaving hospital
- His near-death experience began with an infection that spread from his teeth to his heart
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Mentions 'property of the health department' ECMO machines and fixed vs variable costs for taxpayers
- Includes the line 'At least I didn’t run foul of the deadly fungal outbreak' referencing hospital history
- Describes hallucinations of watching three documentaries about the hospital with himself as the star
- Notes that nurses followed strict protocols including asking for permission before actions like taking temperature
- Highlights the 'Sorry, Ross' phenomenon where nurses repeatedly apologized for procedures
- Specifically mentions 'Webster-pak' medication and being on double the usual diabetic pills
- Describes the ABC TV selection as 'not that wonderful' and repeated shows including Nigella’s Variety Concert
- Details the broken venetian blind in his hospital room and maintenance men's visit
- Includes the line 'And where else do you find university graduates wiping bums?' about nurses
- Mentions the hospital's name as a 'major teaching hospital named after some long-forgotten royal whose only claim to fame was a failed assassination attempt on a visit to Australia'
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- No contradictions found between the two articles as they contain identical text
Source Articles
Ross Gittins spent 44 days in ICU and almost died. This is his story
Our economics editor is on the mend. Here he recounts his medical misadventure that began on the other side of the world....
Ross Gittins spent 44 days in ICU and almost died. This is his story
Our economics editor is on the mend. Here he recounts his medical misadventure that began on the other side of the world....