First successful laparoscopic surgery in the North; services launch in KRH

The first laparoscopic surgery (keyhole surgery) in Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital (KRH) was successfully executed on Monday, November 7.

This marks the first time a laparoscopic surgery was executed in the north of Maldives.

A special surgery team from Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) took charge of the surgery at KRH. The team included Senior Consultant in General Surgery and laparoscopic expert Dr. Abdulla Ubaid leading the team, along with the first sub-specialist in Plastic Surgery in the Maldives Dr. Mohamed Waheed, IGMH's Head of Anesthesiology Department and the Consultant in Anesthesiology Dr. Ismail Latheef and IGMH Laparoscopic Nursing Team in-charge Fathimath Shiuna.

The team was assisted by KRH's team of anesthesiologists and bio-medical engineers along with a team of nurses from the hospital.

Following the successful completion of the first-ever laparoscopic surgery in the KRH, Dr. Ubaid assured continued assistance from IGMH towards KRH's efforts to sustain the service. While addressing health sector advancement, and need for similar services in the North, Dr. Ubaid accentuated the necessity for laparoscopic services among the people.

He further affirmed assistance to KRH's medical professionals with training and expertise. Dr. Ubaid also noted the service will progress only through a systematic and collaborative approach.

Meanwhile, the nursing in-charge of the operation theatre at KRH Huruma Abdul-Raheem spoke about the benefits of introducing laparoscopic services at the medical establishment. She viewed it would shred overconsumption of time spent on large incisions and cuts, and replacing them with holes surgically for required medical operations.

Laparoscopy is a type of surgical procedure allowing surgeons to access inside a patient's abdomen and pelvis without having to make large incisions in the skin. Apart from being termed 'keyhole surgery' it is also known as 'minimally invasive surgery'.

Surgeons use an instrument called a laparoscope, which is a small tube with a light source and a camera. The instrument relays images of the inside of the abdomen or pelvis to a television monitor, allowing surgeons to navigate and locate the source of distress for the patient. Laparoscopic technique is advantageous due to the comparatively less operating time, faster recovery time, less pain and bleeding post operation and reduced scarring.

During the procedure, surgeons make one or small incisions in the abdomen to insert the laparoscope, small surgical tools and a tube used to pump gas into the abdomen allowing surgeons to look around and operate the concerned area in the body. After the procedure, the gas is let out of the abdomen and the incisions are closed with stitches and dressing.

This method of surgery is most commonly used in gynecology, gastroenterology and urology.