THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has once again advanced its provision of surgical care by performing first-of-a-kind minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries.

According to a press release from the hospital, GPHC, in keeping with its aim to provide healthcare that is comparable with that of the developed world, has been progressively advancing surgical care by introducing more laparoscopic techniques— short, narrow tubes are inserted into the abdomen through small (less than one centimeter) incisions.

While basic laparoscopic surgeries have been performed for several years, the hospital has been doing more advanced laparoscopic surgeries.

This 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 (DMPS), and Robbie Rambaran, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who both have demonstrated a keen interest in advancing surgical care at GPHC to first world standards.

While many surgeries, including bariatric (weight loss) surgery and gastrostomies, were done previously, GPHC recently completed a right hemicolectomy for a patient with colon cancer in his right colon. This was removed by laparoscopic 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 GPHC by an entire team of Guyanese surgeons.

The patient, who was happy to be the first one at GPHC to have this surgery done via this new method, said that the experience was above his 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 patient said.

Moving forward, GPHC intends to provide laparoscopic surgeries for most conditions requiring surgical interventions, in keeping with the institution’s goal to develop a Center of Excellence in Minimal Invasive Surgery and provide the best surgical care to the people of Guyana.

Historically, most abdominal surgeries have been done using a long incision (cut) on the abdomen.

Over the last decades in developed countries especially, 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,” GPHC said.

Less postoperative discomfort, a better cosmetic result, and a quicker return to normal activities make laparoscopic surgery superior to open surgery. Normally, six hours following surgery, individuals may walk pain-free.

Together with many other advantages, laparoscopic operation also has lower hernia formation chances. Suffice it to state, laparoscopic surgery has replaced open surgery as the standard in many hospitals in the developed world and the more developed islands in the Caribbean.