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Health

Varsity teaching hospital successfully performs first spinal surgery

Surgery

By Temitope Salami

Ilishan-Remo (Ogun) April 2, 2019 (NAN) The Orthopaedic Department of the Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun, said on Tuesday that it had successfully carried out its first spine surgery.

This is coming barely three months after the hospital recorded its first total knee replacement surgical procedure.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dr Kelechukwu Onuoha, Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon with BUTH, said that the surgery was carried out under general anaesthesia on a middle-aged female patient with multi-level spinal stenosis.

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within your spine, which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine.

The condition occurs most often in the lower back and the neck.

Some people with spinal stenosis may not have symptoms

Onuoha described the procedure as a revision spinal surgery L2 – L5 lumber spinal decompression and instrumentation.

“The 59-years-old patient, who asked for protection of her identity, had undergone a spinal surgery five years earlier in another hospital,” he said.

The surgeon added that the procedure lasted five hours and was carried out in the BUTH ultra-modern, new orthopaedic theatre.

According to Onuoha, the patient, who is Nigerian, has been discharged and is undergoing rehabilitation. (NAN)
TDS/ENN/YEE
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Emmanuel Yashim

General news

BUTH performs first knee replacement surgery on 70-year-old

Surgery

By Temitope Salami

Ilishan-Remo (Ogun), March 1, 2019 (NAN) Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), says it has successfully carried out a complex total knee replacement surgery on an elderly male patient.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Joshua Suleiman, Director, Marketing and Communication, Babcock University.

The patient, aged 70, and who requested anonymity was said to have had features of bilateral severe osteoarthritis and a previous history of right patellectomy.

Dr Kelechukwu Onuoha, Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon,  who supervised the surgery, said he had evaluated the patient for a right complex posterior stabilising Total Knee Replacement.

According to him, the surgery was carried out on Feb. 11, under the combined spinal/epidural anesthesia, and it lasted not less than three hours.

Onuoha said the implant instruments and power tools for the surgery were supplied by Zimmer Biomet, an American company with regional headquarters in South Africa.

“The next plan is for the patient to go for rehabilitation for a period of two to three months and return for the second surgery on the left knee.

“‘’The patient, who had a smooth post-operative recovery and rehabilitation was discharged after five days.

“The patient is also doing very well and can now live a normal life and walk straight,” he said.

On the risks associated with the surgery, the surgeon noted that the patient’s age, body size and blood pressure level were of concern to the medical team.

However, there were no complications throughout the duration of the operation. (NAN)
TDS/YI/IFY
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Edited by Yahaya Isah/Ifeyinwa Omowole

 

Health

NGO conducts free surgery on 300 indigent patients at FETHA

NGO conducts free surgery on 300 indigent patients at FETHA
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Surgery
Abakaliki, June 7, 2018 (NAN) The TY Danjuma Foundation, an NGO, on Thursday begun providing its free surgery on 300 indigent patients at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA).
Mr Gima Forje, Grants and Partnership Officer of the foundation, said during the occasion that it intended to accommodate more patients, but was restrained by resources.
“We know that the needs on ground are by far greater than the resources of a private foundation such as ours can handle, but with the support of all we would surmount the challenges.
“We started engaging the Ebonyi Government and FETHA from November 2017 on how to execute the intervention and are happy that the engagement has led to this flag-off,” he said.
Forje said that the free surgical mission was conceived in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) with discussions commencing in October 2017.
“We intended to learn from the Rapid Response Initiative (RRI) of FMoH in 2015 and to identify a suitable state for the foundation to implement free surgical mission for indigent patients.
“Ebonyi and FETHA were identified for the free surgical mission based on available evidence on access to quality healthcare in the state and FETHA’s performance on RRI.
“The foundation’s core values are hinged on a tripod of informed and responsive grant-making based on community involvement and government participation,” he said.
He recalled that the foundation was established in 2009 with a vision to have a Nigeria where everyone would have access to affordable, quality healthcare, education and opportunities to realise their ambitions.
“We have since inception awarded more than N2.5 billion for the implementation of over 200 interventions across the country and support such in any state where there are needs that relates to our vision,” he said.
Dr Daniel Umezurike, the state Commissioner for Health, noted that the benefiting patients would be operated on five major diseases which include herniorrahphy (hernias) hydrocele, haemorroids (pile), Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) and cataract surgeries.
“The surgeries would be conducted on the patients free of charge as an additional 700 patients would benefit from free counselling to manage their conditions.
“We had a tripartite arrangement with FETHA and the TY Danjuma foundation on the modalities and went round the 13 local government areas to select the patients suffering from such diseases,” he added.
Gov. David Umahi represented by his Deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe, thanked the foundation for the gesture, noting that its founder has proven that he is a detribalised Nigerian.
“Ebonyi could not have been among the states to benefit from the intervention if Gen. Theophilus Danjuma does not believe in Nigeria’s unity.
“The state governor has removed the dichotomy between state and Federal Government owned institutions as he believes that his people are the direct beneficiaries of services provided by both institutions,” he said.
Dr Emeka Ogah, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of FETHA, noted that the intervention would assist the hospital in rendering quality healthcare services to the people.
Mrs Jane Anyigor, one of the benefiting patients, also commended the foundation and FETHA for the intervention, saying that it has restored her hopes of living since battling with her debilitating disease. (NAN)
RCO/MUYI/MST
Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Spine surgery for elderly not death sentence – Expert

Spine surgery for elderly not death sentence – Expert
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Surgery
Abuja, May 7, 2018 (NAN) A Consultant Neurosurgeon at an Abuja based hospital, Dr Biodun Ogungbo, says age is no barrier to surgery in the elderly and not a death sentence.
Ogungbo said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.
“If the surgery can be done safely and if the benefits outweigh the risks, then, no problem. Of course, no one can guarantee 100 per cent success but the majority will benefit and have a new future.
“Some doctors still believe that spine surgery is a death sentence. But, this is not true, at least not in Abuja.
“The operations have been performed safely on the neck and back for many patients with a good outcome in the majority,” he said.
Ogungbo said there was cooperation among hospitals, while many surgeons in the industry had pledged to maintain and improve on the successes of managing the elderly.
He said the poor results of the past are still clouding the present and jeopardising the future, saying many patients are not offered surgery and instead are taken to the villages for unorthodox medicine or to churches for prayers.
“Some are left at home in pain until death eventually comes. Before death though, someone has to look after mama or papa, and someone may have to leave employment to stay home with them.
“Elderly patients suffering from arthritis of the spine should not be left in pains and misery.
“Something should be done when an older person starts crying in the mornings and praying for early death on dark nights,’’ Ogungbo said.
He said arthritis causes wearing out of the bones and pressure on the nerves and spinal cord.
Ogungbo said the destruction of the bone causes instability which may require operation to reinforce the bones, adding that the pressure on the nerves may require operation to free the nerves and release the pressure.
He said surgery requires firm diagnosis, clear evaluation of the physical status of the patient, assessment of the fitness for surgery, a clear surgical plan, honest, balance of the benefits and risks of surgery as well as effective post-operative support by spine-trained physiotherapists.
Ogungbo however said surgery on the spine was safe if performed by experienced surgeons and with adequate expert support from nurses and physiotherapists. (NAN)
OEO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Free medical team to conduct surgery on conjoined twins

Free medical team to conduct surgery on conjoined twins
NAN-H-39
Surgery
By Amina Ahmed
Bauchi, Feb. 12, 2018 (NAN) A team of not less than 50 medical personnel sponsored by Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who are billed to perform free surgery on conjoined twins at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBU-TH), has commenced the surgeries.
Speaking to journalists on Monday in Bauchi, the medical Team Leader, Dr Joseph Kigbu, said that the exercise would include minor and major surgeries.
Meanwhile, the parents of the conjoined babies from Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State have commended the free medical service as well as the sponsor, who is also the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for providing them succour.
Narrating the incident to journalists in Bauchi, the 20-year-old mother of the conjoined babies, Mrs Ikilima Shuiabu, said that the babies were born 67 days ago in Alkaleri, where they were later referred to ATBU-TH.
“One of the babies is completely formed, while the other one has the lower part of the body, from the waist to legs without the upper part.
“We thank God for today that this medical team came and has commenced surgery to separate them because the other half baby has stopped moving,” she said. (NAN)
AE/IFY/MST
Edited by Ifeyinwa Omowole/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Council sponsors eye surgery for locals in Jigawa

Council sponsors eye surgery for locals in Jigawa
NAN-HG-10
Surgery
By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Dutse, Jan. 29, 2018 (NAN) Miga Local Government Council of Jigawa has sponsored free eye surgery for 50 visually impaired persons in the area.
Alhaji Abdallahi Yakubu, the Information Officer in charge of the council, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Monday.
Yakubu said the surgery was conducted on persons with trachoma and trichiasis on Jan. 25.
“The Miga Local Government Council has sponsored eye surgery on trachoma and trichiasis for 50 visually impaired persons consisting males and females.
“The beneficiaries are selected from nooks and crannies of the council,’’ Yakubu said.
He explained that the gesture was to assist the victims regain their lost sights.
The spokesman quoted the council’s Chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, saying after the conduct of the exercise that plan was underway to select another set of visually impaired persons for similar gesture.
According to him, the chairman also advised the beneficiaries to comply with directives given by surgeons after the exercise to ensure speedy and proper healing.
Yakubu also quoted some of the beneficiaries, A’isha Galaucime and Firdausi Bala, commending the council for the kind gesture. (NAN)
MNB/COO/MST
Edited by Cecilia Odey/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Childless woman with defective surgery dies

Childless woman with defective surgery dies
NAN-HG-8
Surgery
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, Jan. 29, 2018 (NAN) A Childless woman, Victoria Isaac, who went through a defective surgery at Orozo, Abuja, has died.
The late Victoria’s husband, Mr Isaac Aondovihi confirmed the death to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview on Monday.
NAN recalls that the surgery was allegedly conducted by Dr Mpson Warigon, the Chief Medical Director of Niquad Clinic, located on Kajah Road, Orozo.
Aondovihi said that the wife died of the complication from a wrong surgery in the morning of Jan. 28 at the Maitama General Hospital, Abuja.
He explained that his wife had been on admission at the Maitama General Hospital since a wrong surgery was carried out on her in August 2017 till she died.
NAN recalls that Aondovihi had then stated that the CMD of Niquad Clinic had diagnosed that his wife had `Left Mucinous Ovarian Cyst’ which prevented the wife from getting pregnant.
He said that the doctor told him that there was need for such to be removed through surgery and asked him to pay N45,000 for the operation.
According to him, days after the surgery was performed on Aug. 7, 2017, his wife could not defecate because he later found out that part of her intestine was cut and tied with thread by the doctor.
“She could no longer defecate while on admission in the hospital and after we returned home and I was surprised at the development; if not the issue of conception that took us to the clinic, my wife was in sound health.
“The doctor did not give us any consent form to fill or tell us the implication of the surgery he intended to do,” the husband then narrated.
He said that he had taken the corpse of his wife with the support of the management of Maitama General Hospital to her village at Sauka, Nasarawa State.
Aondovihi however noted that he had not decided whether to still file a case against the clinic that perpetuated the wrong surgery.
He said that though, he was told that the medical director who conducted the defective surgery had died in November last year.
“I have confirmed the death of the doctor in question from some of the staff of the clinic and neighbours.
“I am still mourning my wife and I am yet to discuss with my lawyer to know the next line of action,” he said.
NAN also gathered that the alleged doctor that committed the wrong surgery was said to be on admission for hypertension as at October 2017.
Mr Ajibola Jimoh, the legal counsel to Aondovihi, has confirmed the report, adding that he is yet to get the brief of his client to institute a case against the clinic. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Jigawa Local Council to sponsor 110 for eye surgery

Jigawa Local Council to sponsor 110 for eye surgery
NAN-H-30
By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Surgery
Dutse, Jan. 11, 2018 (NAN) No fewer than 110 visually impaired people in Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa would benefit from free eye surgery to be sponsored by the council.
Alhaji Ibrahim Yakubu, the Chairman of the council, made this known to newsmen on Thursday in Dutse.
According to Yakubu, the selected beneficiaries will be taken to General Hospital, Dutse, for their treatment.
Yakubu said that 10 beneficiaries would be selected for the exercise from each of the 11 wards of the council.
“We will select 10 people with eye problems from each of the 11 wards of the council and sponsor them to undergo surgery.
“And we will be just and fair in the selection. I mean only those who deserved it will be selected, irrespective of his/her political affiliation or background,” Yakubu assured.
“This is not the first time, as some few months ago, 62 visually impaired persons underwent similar survey under our sponsorship,” the chairman added.
According to him, the gesture is to assist the victims regain their lost sight. (NAN)
MNB/GOM/MST
Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Muhammad Suleiman Tola