St. Lucia Laparoscopy Mission
Phase 2
 

Dr. John George arrived in St. Lucia on Saturday November 8, 2008 and immediately went to work at Tapion Hospital screening patients selected by Dr. Trona Bennett and Dr. Leslie Bishop for laparoscopic surgery for the week of November 10-14.
 

Later during the week he would screen an additional patient of Dr. Peter St. Rose.

The patients had various gynecologic problems that included fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian cysts and pelvic pain. They were aware that Tapion Hospital was offering advanced laparoscopic surgery, and they favored a minimally invasive approach so that recovery would be quicker and pain and scarring would be less than the traditional method of open surgery. Laparoscopy was planned to evaluate the cause of pelvic pain, remove endometriosis, ovarian cysts, fibroids or the uterus. Ten of the thirteen patients screened were scheduled for surgery from Monday, November 10 thru Friday November 14. Some had been scheduled for open surgery by their gynecologist but were rescheduled for laparoscopic surgery because of the mission. Dr. George would perform all surgeries assisted by the patients’ regular gynecologist or in three situations by general surgeons who were desirous of enhancing their laparoscopic skills. Pre and post-surgical discussions were held with the physicians. Items covered included patient diagnosis, selection criteria, instrumentation, surgical technique and post-operative care.
 

Dr. George chats at the end of a case with Drs. Jeltora Bennett, visiting gynecologist
 from Barbados, right; and Dr. Daniel Kabiye general surgeon at Tapion Hospital.

 

Dr. Trona Bennett uses the Kleppinger forceps during a hysterectomy.

 

Dr. George guides Dr. Bishop through initial abdominal entry while
Dr. Trona Bennett, left, Dr. Jeltora Bennett, right,
Dr. Adrian Waterman, Anesthesiologist and the surgical technician look on.

To more St. Lucia Phase II Photos
St. Lucia Laparoscopic Surgery Video

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