During the past three years, 12 people have died while waiting for cardiac surgery in Winnipeg, according to the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
Health officials say the numbers don't always tell the full story and said there's no reason to be alarmed.
In 2008, five people died, while another five died in 2009. Last year, two people died.
"It's always concerning and when we look into it, we say, ‘Could we have done anything differently?' And sometimes the answer is ‘yes' and sometimes ‘no,'" said Dr. Alan Menkis, medical director of the Cardiac Sciences Program.
All of the patients died within 60 days of being added to the wait list, which is well under the established guideline of 180 days on the wait list, said Menkis.
He also said that more than one of the patients died from other, completely unrelated issues.
While cutting down on wait times might seem like an obvious solution, Menkis said it's not.
"Whether your waiting list is 50 or 150, you will have people who will succumb while waiting," said Menkis. "It's not like we're taking people off the street who are perfectly healthy and say ‘we're going to do this to you.' These people have serious (health) problems."
Robert Berube was shocked when his doctor told him he needed to have quadruple bypass surgery.
"Things were getting worse so at that point he said ‘get yourself to the hospital, otherwise you're probably going to have a heart attack,'" said Berube.
He underwent surgery and is glad the problem was caught in time.
"Probably what helped is that I was in pretty good shape," said Berube.
Out of more than 1,200 patients who undergo cardiac surgery every year, health officials said those who take care of themselves are most likely to make it through.
- with a report from CTV's Nancy Carlson
