Peter Lansdown’s law enforcement career – from London’s Metropolitan Police to his current role as Detective Superintendent for the Royal Cayman Islands -- has been marked by dedicated service and resilience after surviving an on-duty violent assault.

In recent years, Mr. Lansdown’s health became a bit of a mystery itself as he directed the solving of crimes in the Cayman Islands as top detective. What followed was a transformative medical experience that not only saved his life -- but restored his vitality to continue his career of helping crime victims.

In November of last year, during the week of his 64th birthday, Mr. Lansdown underwent a life-saving procedure – a minimally invasive aortic valve replacement through a small incision in his chest -- at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. The surgery was performed by Tom C. Nguyen, M.D., FACS, FACC, chief medical executive and Barry T. Katzen Endowed Chair at the Institute, where he is also the director of Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery.

 

(Watch now: Patient Peter Lansdown, Detective Superintendent for the Royal Cayman Islands, and surgeon Tom C. Nguyen, M.D., chief medical executive at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. Video by Dylan Kyle.)

Mr. Lansdown’s heart health dramatically improved, allowing him to regain his strength and continue his demanding role with renewed energy.

“Within a week after the procedure, Dr. Nguyen gave me permission to travel back to the Caymans,” he said. “I felt so good. I wanted to come back to work. I forced myself to take an extra week off.”

Dr. Nguyen explains that Mr. Lansdown’s aortic valve was pumping much harder than normal to get blood to the rest of the body. He had severe aortic stenosis, a condition in which the aortic valve, located between the left ventricle of the heart and the aorta (main artery), becomes narrowed over time.

“Mr. Lansdown became somewhat of a ticking time bomb at some point,” said Dr. Nguyen. “The condition significantly raises the risk of sudden death from either a stroke or heart attack. Fortunately, we found it -- and we have many options here at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute to treat this condition.”

Surgeons at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute have taken leading roles in U.S. clinical trials that have advanced minimally invasive heart valve procedures, including TAVR, or “transcatheter aortic valve replacement,” in which the aortic valve is replaced through the femoral artery (large artery in the groin), which does not require a surgical incision in the chest.

Across the nation, the majority of heart valve replacements are performed via an “open-heart procedure” with a “sternotomy,” in which the chest is surgically opened for the procedure. This traditional surgery requires extensive recoveries that can last months. Minimally invasive procedures require only a few days of recovery.

A Life Altered by Trauma

Mr. Lansdown’s heart health took an alarming turn after a traumatic event that occurred six years ago while working in the Cayman Islands. “I was subjected to a vicious assault,” he recalls. “I had broken ribs, bleeding on the lungs, a fractured skull and other injuries.”

While the focus at the time was on treating his injuries, something more concerning emerged: heart palpitations. He was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib)—a common heart rhythm disorder that affects millions of people worldwide.

Although AFib initially presented itself as an intermittent problem, Mr. Lansdown’s condition gradually worsened over the next few years. He describes the frustration he felt as his once active lifestyle began to deteriorate.

“I used to walk for miles and I found I was getting out of breath,” he recalls. “If I exerted myself, if I stayed at normal routine, everything was pretty good. It wasn't a problem, and I put it down to old age. I just thought: I’m getting older -- this is what happens.”

But even as he accepted his perceived decline in fitness, Mr. Lansdown could sense something wasn’t quite right. In the last couple of years, his symptoms intensified. The breathlessness became more frequent and more severe, prompting him to seek further medical attention.

Dr. Nguyen explains that Mr. Lansdown’s aortic valve stenosis was not caused by the traumatic event, but developed over time. His injury may have hastened some symptoms which would lead to workups and testing the revealed the heart valve issue. 

“You could say that it may have been a blessing of sorts that he was forced to undergo extensive testing following his traumatic injury,” said Dr. Nguyen. “Many people with severe aortic stenosis aren’t as fortunate. Research shows that about half of patients with this condition don’t survive after two years.”

The Severity of His Heart Condition

It wasn’t until a routine check-up in the Caymans that the severity of Mr. Lansdown’s heart condition truly became clear.

“I went back for one of my AFib tests” he said. “My cardiologist here in Cayman ordered an electrocardiogram, and they noticed the aortic valve was operating badly. Virtually sealed on one side. So, they referred me to Baptist Health for further tests and checks.”

His cardiologist had heard of Dr. Nguyen’s expertise in treating heart valve issues, and after reviewing Mr. Lansdown’s case, she strongly recommended that he consult with him. Mr. Lansdown’s first few consults with Dr. Nguyen were done remotely – via telehealth.

What started as a simple check-up in the Caymans turned into a wake-up call. Dr. Nguyen informed Mr. Lansdown that his aortic valve was severely damaged and needed immediate attention.

“Dr. Nguyen said that at any point part of the tissue could have become detached, and that would have been a stroke, a heart attack or death,” recounts Mr. Lansdown. “He actually told me that I could have been dead within a year or two years. That shocked me. I didn’t realize I was in that bad of a condition.”

Mr. Lansdown is one of many patients from other countries seeking care at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute.

“Another unique thing about our program is that we can make the experience as seamless as possible for patients who are far away -- initially via Telehealth,” said Dr. Nguyen. “Patients from the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe are able to get here to the Institute -- and the procedure is arranged quickly and performed as efficiently as possible. The first day I saw Mr. Lansdown in person was a couple hours before his surgery. We had ironed out everything beforehand and we were set to begin the procedure.”

The Life-Saving Aortic Valve Procedure

Mr. Lansdown’s condition was serious: his aortic valve, a crucial component of the heart that regulates blood flow, was almost completely dysfunctional. Dr. Nguyen recommended the minimally invasive procedure that replaces the damaged valve without open-heart surgery.

“What we do is actually go in there and excise the very diseased, calcified and thickened aortic leaflets (the cusps, or flaps, located at the opening of the aorta),” explains Dr. Nguyen. “And then we suture into place a new valve. The patient is in the operating room for about two and a half hours. The most important part of the operation is probably 60 minutes where we're actually taking the valve out and putting a new valve into place.”

Most patients will be in a hospital for about three or four days, and then back to normal, adds Dr. Nguyen. That is a swift recovery compared to traditional open-heart surgery, where sometimes it takes several weeks for patients to return back to normal.

For Mr. Lansdown, the news was overwhelming, but he trusted Dr. Nguyen’s judgment. “Dr. Nguyen was just awesome,” Mr. Lansdown says. “He just inspired confidence. I was just completely happy to put my life in his hands.”

A Swift Recovery

Lansdown’s recovery was faster than he could have imagined. Just one week after the procedure, he was back in the Cayman Islands.

“I’ve kept really busy -- sometimes, working 60-hour weeks,” Mr. Lansdown says with a smile. “I feel really good, and without a doubt, I’m capable of improving my fitness. I’ve gone for a couple of two-mile walks. I probably should have stopped and taken a breath, but I did them without stopping along the beach.”

He credits the smooth healing of his wounds to the care he received, admitting that he was initially concerned about visible scars. “I love the sun and I walk along in my beachwear. I was a bit concerned or a bit embarrassed because I carried a few scars. But they’re pretty unobtrusive and I’m quite happy.”

A Renewed Outlook on Life

For Mr. Lansdown, his recovery from the aortic valve replacement has been nothing short of life-changing. Not only has his heart been restored to full function, but his perspective on health and aging has shifted dramatically. “I didn’t realize I was in that bad of a condition,” he says.

This month, Mr. Lansdown is scheduled to start a six-month assignment as chief of police in the remote British overseas territory of Saint Helena, a tropical island located in the South Atlantic, some 1,100 miles west of the mainland of Africa. He hopes to apply for the new position permanently after six months.

He emphasizes that the care and expertise of Dr. Nguyen and his team not only saved his life -- but also gave him back the energy and confidence to continue his active, fulfilling career. “His team, along with the nurses and the aftercare team, were just spectacular.”

Baptist Health International offers a full range of services for international patients. For inquiries or to schedule an appointment, call 786-596-2373 or email International@BaptistHealth.net.