For the past 7 years, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College has been providing surgical treatment for tumors occurring at the head of the pancreas, the final part of the bile duct, or the first part of the small intestine. When such tumors caused the bile duct to be blocked, leading to jaundice (yellowing of the eyes), the surgery was performed by opening the abdomen.
Dr. Wuletaw Chane, a specialist in gallbladder, liver, and pancreas at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, specifically told EBC Dotstream that the hospital, in collaboration with doctors from India, was able to successfully perform the surgery using a modern tool called laparoscopy, without opening the abdomen.
Dr. Wuletaw Chane stated that the successful surgery, which involved over 10 medical professionals and took 3 hours and 30 minutes, is among the most complex types of abdominal surgery.
The specialist highlighted that this type of treatment is not available in Africa except in South Africa, and noted that this surgery, performed using the modern machine, is the first of its kind in Ethiopia.
"Being able to perform the surgery without opening the abdomen using new technology, whereas before it was done by opening the abdomen, is a big change and success," he said.
Today's successful surgery at the hospital, supported by the Dawood Bohra Foundation of India, was carried out through the collaboration of doctors who came from India to provide free treatment for 3 days and Ethiopian doctors.
Dr. Wuletaw Chane stated that the advancement in medical technology significantly contributes to reducing the wound created on patients even in complex surgical procedures.
He added that they have gained both knowledge and skill from today's operation and pointed out that there is a conducive environment to perform similar surgeries in the future by acquiring additional training and equipping the hospital with the necessary tools.
He also said that today's surgery is not only a great lesson for the professionals and the institution but also for the country as a whole.
The patient, who is the first in Ethiopia to have a tumor removed without the abdomen being opened, has been moved from the operating room to the recovery room and is in good health condition, he added.