The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) says it successfully performed Guyana’s first-ever laparoscopic bariatric surgery some six weeks ago.
In a statement, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who chairs the GPHC Board of Directors, said the procedure was performed on February 17, 2022, on a 32-year-old man. He did not release the name of the patient.
The surgical team was led by Dr Hemraj Ramcharran and included nurse Roenita Grant and doctors Zoilo Leon, Adikar Ramjoo, Delon Ramnarine, Bibi Hussain, Drohinauth Singh and Fiaaz Hassan. The patient was also supported by a Nutritionist, Psychologist, Cardiologist and Endocrinologist among other medical professionals.
Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery is a form of weight-loss surgery offered to persons who are obese and cannot lose weight by non-surgical means. Obese persons are those persons with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. This form of surgery is performed using a small camera or laparoscope. There is no long incision that is made to enter the stomach. Laparoscopic bariatric surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique that involves removing or limiting a section of the stomach and rearranging it. Persons who have had laparoscopic bariatric surgery eat a lower amount of food, which helps weight loss. The surgery restricts the ability to eat large amounts of food.
The GPHC said that the patient presented as a suitable candidate for the procedure and has been recovering well. He has lost 40 pounds within the six weeks post-surgery and is well on his way to losing the expected weight. According to the hospital, if the patient follows the medical advice, he should lose half of his pre-surgery weight within six months and only weigh one-third of his initial weight after one year.
While this is the first laparoscopic bariatric surgery done in Guyana, open bariatric surgery has been done previously.
Obesity is a major problem in Guyana, with more than half of the population either overweight or obese. Obesity is often accompanied by serious co-morbidities, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart diseases. The weight loss programme at the GPHC is now preparing itself to add laparoscopic bariatric surgery as a routine service to help people who might need surgical intervention as their only option for treating obesity.
The statement related that Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony has pledged to make more high-level medical interventions as part of the local healthcare system. Both the Minister and the hospital’s Board expressed gratitude to the team for the successful surgery.
