Columnist Ross Gittins recounts his 44-day ICU stay and near-death cardiac surgery experience
Consensus Summary
Ross Gittins, a well-known columnist, recounts his harrowing 44-day ICU stay after a severe cardiac infection nearly killed him. His ordeal began during a Danube cruise when symptoms like uncontrollable shaking were misdiagnosed as bronchitis, but his condition worsened until he required emergency surgery in Vienna. Despite hospital advice, Gittins insisted on returning to Australia, where he underwent an 8-hour cardiac operation involving an ECMO machine and heart valve replacement. His recovery was prolonged by complications like peripheral neuropathy and five cardiac arrests, leaving him hospitalized for five months. Gittins highlights the bureaucratic and physical toll of his treatment, including constant monitoring, a tracheostomy, and the psychological strain of ICU. He also reflects on the high costs of advanced medical interventions, noting that while his care was expensive, the fixed costs of such services mean taxpayer savings would be minimal if he had not survived. The article blends personal narrative with observations on healthcare systems, specialisation, and the human side of medical care, particularly the dedication of nurses despite underpayment.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Ross Gittins began experiencing uncontrollable shaking in Budapest during a Danube cruise in October
- A cruise doctor initially diagnosed Gittins with bronchitis but he deteriorated and was hospitalized in Vienna
- Gittins insisted on returning to Australia as planned despite hospital advice to stay
- Gittins underwent an 8-hour cardiac surgery called a 'commando procedure' or 'unidentified flying object'
- The surgery involved an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine and replacement of a heart valve
- Gittins spent 44 days in ICU after the operation, with his heart stopping five times
- Gittins developed peripheral neuropathy ('foot drop') and lost 20kg during hospitalization
- Gittins was hospitalized for two nights after tripping at home due to his weakened legs
- Gittins was a member of the doctorsâ union and used this to prioritize emergency care via a GP referral
- Gittins had a tracheostomy that temporarily removed his ability to speak
- Gittins was on a Webster-pak (medication organizer) post-hospitalization
- Gittinsâ hospital stay lasted five months with significant physical decline
- Gittinsâ private insurance secured him a private room with a TV and window
- ECMO machines cost up to $300,000 each
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Gittins references a hospital named after a 'long-forgotten royal whose only claim to fame was a failed assassination attempt on a visit to Australia' (implied to be Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh)
- Gittins mentions a 'deadly fungal outbreak' he narrowly avoided in the hospital
- Gittins notes nurses' efforts to understand his speech after a tracheostomy, highlighting journalistic skepticism
- Gittins describes hallucinations of three documentaries about his own hospital stay
- Gittins references 'Algernon' as a doctorâs first name used by all non-professor staff
- Gittins mentions a 'Webster-pak' (medication organizer) explicitly as a new dependency
- Gittins details the broken venetian blind in his hospital room and maintenance workers' failure to fix it
- Gittins explicitly states he was 'diabetic' and used to taking seven pills daily before doubling
- Gittins describes nurses' repeated 'sorry, Ross' apologies as a potential title for his story
- Gittins notes nurses' use of 'fancy machines' for repeated blood sugar measurements (finger pricking)
- Gittins mentions 'male nurses' who provided special consideration to his wife and daughter
- Gittins references 'Nigellaâs Variety Concert' being played repeatedly on hospital TV
- Gittins notes nurses' use of 'tweezers, syringes, covers, gloves, aprons' as disposable plastic items
- Gittins describes 'pressure sore' (bedsore) development due to prolonged bed rest
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- No contradictions found between the two sources
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....