SURGICAL Associates Guyana has introduced laser treatment of kidney stones at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. This technique uses a high intensity laser beam to pulverise stones through an endoscope.

The St. Joseph Mercy Hospital is the first and only hospital in the country with the equipment and expertise to offer this modern method of treatment. Surgical Associates Guyana, based at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, is a group of young Guyanese surgeons who are highly skilled in their respective fields.
They have a common mission of providing the Guyanese people with first world level surgical care. This significant investment is a reflection of their commitment to the development of healthcare in this country.

The first case of a kidney stone treated with the laser in Guyana was a 34-year-old female with a 1.1cm stone in the kidney. The patient was successfully treated last Thursday at the St, Joseph Mercy Hospital and was discharged within hours of the procedure. Traditionally, this would have required an incision on the abdomen, two to three days of hospitalisation and weeks of convalescence.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Rajendra Sukhraj, a trained specialist urological surgeon. Dr. Sukhraj is highly experienced in treating kidney stones with the laser. He returned to Guyana one year ago after completing a post-graduate degree in Urology at the University of the West Indies.