Chinese doctor introduces minimal operation invasi...

Chinese doctor introduces minimal operation invasion technique at Parirenyatwa

Dr. Zhang Yueming, MD, PhD, is the Deputy Team Leader of the 21st Batch of the China Medical Team in Zimbabwe and Assistant professor of General Surgery atThe Third Hospital of Changsha.

On the first day of the mission in Zimbabwe at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, the largest tertiary referral centre in Zimbabwe, Dr Zhang noted that the majority of surgeries were still being performed using traditional open methods.

While occasional laparoscopic minimally invasive surgeries for gallstones were conducted using the four-port method, most surgeries remained traditional.

Currently, most tertiary hospitals in China use the three-port or even single-port method for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Since the single-port method requires special surgical instruments, Dr Zhang suggested trying the three-port method for laparoscopic cholecystectomy to minimize patient trauma, shorten recovery time, and improve the surgical experience, which is a pursuit of contemporary surgeons.

Dr. Christopher, a general surgeon at the hospital, accepted the suggestion and invited Dr Zhang to demonstrate the three-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

The surgery was performed on a 43-year-old female patient weighing over 100 kg, who had delayed seeking medical attention, resulting in severe adhesions due to inflammation around the gallbladder, making the surgery challenging.

Despite operating in extremely basic and outdated conditions in an unfamiliar environment, he successfully completed the surgery in less than half an hour and earned applause from the medical staff present.

"Bringing advanced medical technology from China to Zimbabwe for the benefit of the Zimbabwean people is the initial aspiration that led me to join the medical aid team to Zimbabwe," said Dr. Zhang Yueming. "Over the next year, I will enhance the local medical staff's laparoscopic skills through on-site teaching, simulation training, and further utilize telemedicine platforms to host Sino-Zimbabwean hepatobiliary academic forums. This will introduce the latest surgical concepts and technologies, truly leaving behind a non-departing medical team' for Zimbabwe."