A MATTER OF HEART
Is a photo documentation about heart surgeon Prof Dr Ruediger Lange, Director Deutsches Herzzentrum, Munich, Germany. One of the leading and most respected heart surgeons in the world. More than 35 years of experience. 25.000 surgical operations on the open heart.
Saving a human life is his daily work. Anything but routine. The last man standing.
This documentation was one of the most challenging photographical works I have done so far. You will see sensible images, so if you are not used to it, please be cautious.
I’m very honored, that the magazine Apotheken Umschau, has published excerpts of what you can see here in full length.
I would like to thank Prof Dr Ruediger Lange and his whole team for this introspective and unique experience and the support they gave me to step up and overcome my limits.
published in APOTHEKEN UMSCHAU in July 2022 - magazine with the highest circulation in Europe
earliest morning - the city is still asleep. The daily team conference with all doctors in charge. Detailed reviews about the surgeries of the last days and the upcoming ones of the day. Flickering pictures of patients’ hearts on the wall.
operating theatre - meanwhile the surgeons on duty have left the early morning conference and are preparing their patients in the respective operating theatre for the surgery. Cut open thorax, stop the natural heartbeat by connecting to the heart-lung-machine which will take over for the next hours.
the operating theatre 1 in the Deutsches Herzzentrum Munich, Germany - one of the most high tech in the world -a total control in an alleged chaos
the heart-lung-machine, the key to heart surgery
detail of the heart-lung-machine with the volume of blood needed
the surgical steel - ‘heartpiece’ in between of all the hight tech
the patient’s connection to the anesthetic deck
preparation - Prof Dr Lange has arrived at the scrub room to prepare himself for the upcoming surgery.
the team - Prof Dr Lange comes now to the operating table. The core team is grouped and ready to start the mitral valve (Herzklappe) surgery.
the inner circle consists of Prof Dr Lange, his counterpart, 2 further surgeons, 1 surgical nurse. On the left side the medical engineer in charge of the heart-lung-machine
the anesthetic deck on the side of the patient’s head outside of the inner circle. Monitoring every parameter
‘anesthetic guardian’
the ambiance is friendly and focused. The concentration is at a full. The few words which are exchanged in the beginning are with low voices. You grasp that they don’t really need words, they know precisely what to do. Grouped around Prof Dr Lange they start their work for the next hours.
the working space is cramped. Heads and hands are so close to each other that they might get in conflict. But this is the most elaborated and synchronized ‘ballet of focused heads and hands’ you can imagine.
installing camera - As a first step the camera is now installed in the heart of the patient. This allows to follow the surgery through monitors with introspective.
the eyes go to the monitors. The camera ist now installed in the heart
the inside of a heart
HEART - COR - linear perspective
HEART - COR - the view from above
final steps - the team is preparing the mitral valve. Prof Dr Lange is now going into the heart. With his bare fingertips he positions the mitral valve. No glance at any monitor.
preparation of the mitral valve
Prof Dr Lange’s fingertips in the heart positioning the mitral valve
the surgery is accomplished. For a short while his hand lies on the steel. This heart will beat again
AFTER … leaving the operating theatre the first action of Prof Dr Lange is to call the patient’s wife. The second action is to go and grab a quick stand-up lunch. After a short break in his office, the next part of the day starts. The doctor’s visit of the patients who will be next.
THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING THIS AMAZING JOURNEY