St. Lucia Laparoscopy Mission
Phase 2 (Page 3)
 

Dr. George performed surgery with the St. Lucian physician gynecologists/general surgeons as first assistant. Physician participation included gynecologists and general surgeons from Tapion as well as the public hospital. One gynecologist Dr. Jeltora Bennett who traveled from Barbados, was highly impressed and plans to return to perform surgery on her patients in February, 2009. While there were expressions of interest from physicians from Grenada, Antigua and Dominica, no one from those islands was in attendance.

Photo: Sister Dickson’s expression is typical of those who witness the removal of large uteruses with a morcellator through a less than one inch incision.

Physicians and nurses in attendance were amazed at the capabilities of advanced laparoscopic surgery. They marveled at the clarity of the images, were in awe at the large size uterus and the large number and size of fibroids that were removed by laparoscopy. Some looked in disbelief as laparoscopic suturing was performed at hysterectomy and myomectomy to restore normal anatomy. They were surprised that endometriosis was safely excised from the ureter. They were especially thrilled to see the working of instruments like the Harmonic scalpel, motorized morcellator and a wide range of other instruments including a bipolar electrosurgical unit and Ethicon Excel trocars. Most of all they looked in disbelief at the rapid recovery of the patients none of whom had operative complications. The operating room care by the nursing team headed by sister Francisca Dickson and the post-operative care by nurses supervised by sister Vona John were invaluable aspects of the total team effort.  

Photo: The pre-operative, operative and post-operative care by the anesthesiologist Dr. Adrian Waterman was superb.

Photo: All patients were doing well and were discharged home the morning after surgery.

Dr. Trona Bennett must be congratulated for having the vision to bring advanced laparoscopic surgery to Tapion Hospital that can now serve the entire Eastern Caribbean.  

Phase III of the mission is being planned for the last week in February 2009. Eastern Caribbean physicians who are interested in participating should contact Dr. George.

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