Tuesday July 21, 2009
The last couple of days have been busy during the day but quiet after 5. We have done more hysterectomies and 3 more prostatectomies. Every one seems to be doing well. Alvin the 14 yo with the large ulcers from TB is a real problem. Ultimately I decided that I didn’t want to do a radical operation on him, one he probably would not recover from. I let him go home today with his family. This photo is of Alvin and his mother Alice while in the TB hospital, I think in the only private room they had.
I continue to see new things. Yesterday a 32 yo man came to the clinic with a bladder exstrophy, that is a bladder that did not close during development and is open to the skin at the pubic bone. As you can imagine, this is a terrible problem that would be fixed in the US when a baby. He has lived with this his whole life, constantly spilling urine. I may tackle this. I talked to Dr. Strimer about it today and he is going to make some calls, but I have an idea how I might close it. Today I admitted a 38 yo named Mark William. Mark has a 12 cm pseudoaneurism of the left iliac artery with an arteriovenous fistula. This has caused him to develop heart failure and ascities. We are going to attempt a repair tomorrow, please pray for this surgery.
It just started raining. We have had some good weather during the days and the weather is cool by African standards (about 75-85).
Only 6 more operating days left, next Monday is independence day and is a holiday (so maybe a trauma case).
More soon. Mark and Mary
The last couple of days have been busy during the day but quiet after 5. We have done more hysterectomies and 3 more prostatectomies. Every one seems to be doing well. Alvin the 14 yo with the large ulcers from TB is a real problem. Ultimately I decided that I didn’t want to do a radical operation on him, one he probably would not recover from. I let him go home today with his family. This photo is of Alvin and his mother Alice while in the TB hospital, I think in the only private room they had.
I continue to see new things. Yesterday a 32 yo man came to the clinic with a bladder exstrophy, that is a bladder that did not close during development and is open to the skin at the pubic bone. As you can imagine, this is a terrible problem that would be fixed in the US when a baby. He has lived with this his whole life, constantly spilling urine. I may tackle this. I talked to Dr. Strimer about it today and he is going to make some calls, but I have an idea how I might close it. Today I admitted a 38 yo named Mark William. Mark has a 12 cm pseudoaneurism of the left iliac artery with an arteriovenous fistula. This has caused him to develop heart failure and ascities. We are going to attempt a repair tomorrow, please pray for this surgery.
It just started raining. We have had some good weather during the days and the weather is cool by African standards (about 75-85).
Only 6 more operating days left, next Monday is independence day and is a holiday (so maybe a trauma case).
More soon. Mark and MaryMary with childern at a local orphanage.
I have received Mary's phone messages. I am just sick that I missed the calls. However, I have passed the word to the church that you are needing prayer for Mark William. Our family has been praying all day. I got the message that surgery is delayed until tomorrow (Thursday). REst assured that you are being supported in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteI am loving your blog reports and wishing I was there! Wow!! Such great opportunities!!!