It was all joy after our team of doctors, anaesthetists and nurses successfully undertook a 10-hour surgery to remove a Pseudomyxoma Peritonei tumour through a joint procedure – Cytoreductive surgery and Intraperitoneal Hyperthermic Chemoperfusion (HIPEC) from a 52-year old patient.
Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemoperfusion (HIPEC) is a type of hyperthermia therapy used in combination with surgery in the treatment of advanced abdominal cancers.
This is the first in Ghana and in West Africa that a rare tumour has being removed with HIPEC. After removing the tumour, which weighed 10 pounds (4.5kg), the patient is back on the ward and doing very well.
Procedure
In an interview after the surgery, the lead surgeon, Dr Asare Offei, said HIPEC is usually used to treat Peritonei surface cancers, but commonly appendix cancers that has spread to the whole abdomen.
He said the procedure, which is also called the ‘Sugarbaker Procedure’, can also be used to treat some cases of colorectal, ovarian and gastric cancers.
Dr. Offei said such tumours usually start in the appendix, spreads to the whole abdomen and infiltrates the omentum and small intestines, making the patient feel lots of pains.
History
Dr Offei narrated that traditionally, Pseudomyxoma Peritonei tumours were considered not treatable. The surgery was considered not appropriate, and tumour response to chemotherapy alone was not good.
To solve this, Dr Paul Sugarbaker, an American doctor devised the HIPEC procedure where he removed every visible tumour in the abdomen and then apply chemotherapy so that all the tiny tumours that were not removed can microscopically be heated and killed by the chemotherapy.
The use of the HIPEC procedure generally improves the quality of life of patients and also increases their long term survival.
Survival Rate
Dr Offei said the survival rate in some health centres in Europe and America who use this procedure ranges between two to 10 years, with the latter being possible if the patient reports early.
The tumour is rare in Ghana and the world at large but the essence of the procedure is to offer patients who, hitherto, would have died early, an improved medium to long term survival.
Team members
The Team which undertook this historic surgery are Dr Asare Offei (lead Surgeon), Dr Henry Obaka and Dr Fred Osei (Anaesthetist). Other members were Mr Prince Kwame Amponsah, Ms Regina Hayford, Ms Jemima Akwetey and Mr Kwaku Frimpong, all of whom are peri-operative nurses.
The procedure was supported by dedicated surgical residents on the third floor of the Surgical Department.
The Hospital is grateful to the Team for this historic surgery. Korle Bu will continue to blaze the trail in healthcare delivery!!!
Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Excellence in Healthcare!
