The Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) has performed yet another first-of-its-kind keyhole surgery, this time on the colon of a cancer patient.
The GPH in a release yesterday, announced that it had advanced its provision of surgical care by performing first-of-a-kind minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries. The statement went on to explain that historically, most abdominal surgeries have been done using a long incision (cut) on the abdomen. However, over the last several decades, especially in more developed countries, many of these surgeries have been done laparoscopically, otherwise known as keyhole surgery. This involves the use of three or four small (1cm) incisions through which the surgical instruments are placed to perform the surgery as the surgeon sees the operative field via a video monitor.
The GPH noted that in keeping with its aim to provide healthcare to its patients comparable with that of the developed world, it has been progressively advancing surgical care by introducing more laparoscopic techniques. While basic laparoscopic surgeries have been performed for several years, the hospital disclosed that it has increasingly been doing more advanced laparoscopic surgeries. This, it informed, has been fuelled by the return of a trained advanced laparoscopic surgeon, Dr Hemraj Ramcharran, supported technically and financially by Dr Navindranauth Rambaran, Director of Medical and Professional Services, and Robbie Rambaran, Chief Execu-tive Officer, two administrators who have demonstrated a keen interest in advancing surgical care at the GPH to First World standards.
Further, while many surgeries including baria-tric (weight loss) surgery, and gastrostomies were done previously, the GPH said that it had recently completed a right hemicolectomy for a patient with colon cancer. This, the hospital explain-ed, was removed by lapa-roscopic surgery which was done through four small incisions. Although a similar procedure was done privately several years ago, this was the first time it was done at the GPH by an entire team of Guyanese surgeons.
The patient, who had the honour of being the first at the GPH to have this surgery done via this new method remarked, “I would say that the experience was above my expectations given that it was my first time undergoing a surgery and being admitted to the hospital. Although it was all new to me and the obvious nervousness was there, the surgery itself in my opinion was gentle with the inherent aftermath of a surgery which was all still very bearable and tolerable.”
The surgical team for the procedure included Dr H. Ramcharran, Dr D. Ramnarine, Dr N. Rambaran, Dr B Hussain and Dr J. Bhudial. Looking ahead, the GPH says it intends to provide laparoscopic surgeries for most conditions requiring surgical interventions, this is in keeping with the institution’s goal to develop a Centre of Excellence in Minimal Invasive Surgery and provide the best surgical care to the people of Guyana, the release added.
