Trip: 15th November to 3rd December 2014
Team Members:
SAM GIDWANI: Hand Surgeon, London
NOLA LLOYD: Specialist Trainee Plastic Surgeon, Bristol
JAMES ROGERS: Anaesthetist, Bristol
DONALD SAMMUT: Hand Surgeon, Bath
The visit once again consisted of two halves.
The first half was spent in Lalgadh Leprosy Hospital and consisted of intensive, daily operating (total number of cases 53) and, importantly, teaching of the local surgeons. Kirin Narkani and Bishal Karki, surgeons from the Kathmandu team, and Krishna Lama, from Lalgadh, were present at all clinics and operating sessions each of which was, in effect, a teaching session. The team benefited from the addition of James Rogers, Consultant Anaesthetist – his inclusion enabled more complex surgery than would have been possible. James also took on the teaching of anaesthetic principles and techniques to local staff. The repertoire, once again, consisted mainly of the reanimation of hands paralysed by leprosy, the severe contractures from burns and miscellaneous conditions such as instabilities, congenital hand defects, infections.
The second half of the visit was spent in Kathmandu where DS lectured to the Kathmandu Plastic Surgery team led by Prof Shankar Rai. No surgery was performed in Kathmandu or Kirtipur on this visit.
On the journey back from Kathmandu, DS and NL stopped over in Abu Dhabi at Etihad Airlines headquarters and lectured on the leprosy surgical programme to the volunteers of Etihad, trip sponsors.
Once again the main sponsors of this trip were Etihad Airlines which has generously provided our flights since 2011, and the British Society for Surgery of the Hand which continues to provide an annual grant.
