James Molloy, 52, required emergency surgery at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital.
A dad-of-two has undergone life-saving heart surgery after a suspected complication arising from dental treatment. James Molloy, 52, had a type A aortic dissection – a tear in an artery near the heart – in June 2025, with relatives told he was lucky to survive.
Mr Molloy, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, embarked on an extensive journey of recovery and while still recovering underwent a completely normal dental procedure to replace a filling in November last year.
However, this January, he became seriously ill and was rushed to a specialist cardiology unit. His relatives suspect that a widespread skin bacteria – Staphylococcus aureus – entered his blood and targeted his heart valve replacement.
Mr Molloy endured a grueling 18-hour operation with five doctors battling to save his heart. Mr Molloy remarkably survived, although the permanent damage he has sustained is currently unclear.
Mr Molloy’s brother William said: “James said how to make life better after an aortic dissection which was exercise, lower your blood pressure and don’t stress.
“No one had told us that dental work is the easiest way to get an infection in your heart. In November, he had sore gums and teeth, so he had a replacement filling.
“We later found out that cardiology suggests that some heart patients should take prophylactic antibiotics after treatment, while dentists say there is not enough evidence to support the risk.”
Mr Molloy was at home in June 2025 when he began to feel seriously ill and decided to go to A&E.
Jasmine’s dad, 17, and Edward, 15, were struggling with high blood pressure, with relatives saying he was under a lot of stress at the time.
Mr Molloy, who works in recruitment, was rushed to Bristol Heart Institute where doctors diagnosed him with type A aortic dissection – a condition with an 80% mortality rate.
He endured eight hours of open-heart surgery, followed by seven months of adjusting to new medications while trying to manage his blood pressure.
Mr Molloy’s relatives suspect a replacement filling in November triggered Staphylococcus aureus – commonly referred to as a staph infection.
The germs responsible for staph infections usually live harmlessly on people’s skin, but they have the potential to cause infections.
On January 11, Mr Molloy developed a rising temperature, irregular heartbeat and was drenched in sweat while visiting his mother in Knutsford, near Manchester.
An ambulance took him to Macclesfield Hospital where medical staff determined he needed emergency life-saving surgery on Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital.
Molloy’s brother William said: “He was told there was a good chance he wouldn’t survive the procedure – but if he didn’t, he would die.
“They moved the surgery because his heart was in such a state. James had five surgeons working on him.
“They said they had never done so much to one person in one go.
“The surgery started at 8am and at 2am the surgeon came out and said, ‘If James can live for the next hour then he’ll have something to smile about.’
“There was nothing more they could do – it was all up to him.”
Throughout the process on January 11, Mr Molloy received three heart valve replacements, heart patches, a transplanted aortic stem, multiple aortic repairs and a pacemaker fitted.
He remains in an artificially induced coma while his body struggles through the healing process.
Earlier this week, doctors tried to withdraw his ventilator, but his left lung collapsed, prompting them to put him back on ventilator support.
Mr Molloy is also on dialysis after the procedure, which doctors are now trying to ‘restart’.
His relatives have launched a GoFundMe appeal to cover the cost of Mr Molloy’s mortgage payments and help with his financial obligations during his recovery.
His brother William said: “The mortgage company says there’s not much more they can do as he already had three months’ mortgage leave in June after his first operation.
“He is self-employed so is not entitled to any government assistance and is very, very unlikely to return to work this year.
“Once he regains consciousness, we’d like to be able to say to him, ‘Don’t worry, everything is sorted out with the help of your family, friends and strangers.’
Mr Molloy’s partner of five years, Hannah Sampson, added: ‘If we had known this could have happened we would have pushed for antibiotics.
“When we discussed what his life should be like after the first operation, it was always about taking warfarin and not cutting yourself in case you bleed to death.
“We never thought we would be in this situation and the impact on all of us has been huge.
“She has two children, Jasmine and Edward, that we have to think about.
“It’s very important that we try to get him to a place where he doesn’t have to worry and stress about money.”
