Innovative research at the intersection of art and science

Every year, roughly 15,000 people in the Netherlands suffer a sudden cardiac arrest. Some will have an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) inserted. This can prevent sudden cardiac death by administrating a shock, but may also cause psychological distress. “Imagine waking up in the hospital and being told not only that you had to be resuscitated and will receive all sorts of medications, but also that you need an operation to receive an ICD. It’s a drastic change; 33% of patients experience psychological symptoms such as anxiety and stress afterwards, which can in turn increase the risk of new cardiac arrhythmias. It’s important that they receive the appropriate aftercare,” says Yesim Kaya, a physician–researcher at CARIM, UM’s cardiovascular research institute. Last year, Kaya was awarded an HS-BAFTA grant to study integrated cardiac imaging in the treatment of patients with ventricular tachycardia: life-threatening arrhythmias of the heart. 

Kaya’s fascination with the heart is not limited to her work within the hospital walls; she has devoted her life to it. She is an instructor at the Red Cross and the Dutch Resuscitation Council. Additionally, she gives free CPR lessons, and will soon also offer cardiovascular risk prevention classes through the charity Hart voor een Ander. “I’ve always been intrigued by the prevention and treatment of ventricular tachycardia, but patient aftercare is also very important to me. That’s why I decided to get involved with HeArt Ma’at.” 

Kaya joined the multifaceted project, initiated by cardiologist Rachel ter Bekke and artist Claudia Volders, a few years ago. Dozens of patients have already been introduced to HeArt Ma’at, mainly by getting creative in pop-up studios. “We’re currently working on a large canvas and leaflets for the waiting room of the cardiology department. The canvas is covered in drawings that portray the emotional experience of wearing an ICD, while the leaflet tells the personal stories of patients [‘Humans of HeArt’].”

In Egyptian mythology, ma’at refers to balance and stability. In the HeArt Ma’at project, it symbolises finding an equilibrium in life. “After an ICD is placed, which is quite a drastic intervention, patients often experience strong emotions. They need tools and techniques to process what is happening and to pick up the thread of their lives again. But expressing your feelings in words isn’t always easy; that’s where art comes in. We want to study how we can guide patients in their coping process through personalised art therapy. The next step is to build a strong scientific basis on which to develop therapies and a care pathway.” 

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