May Pen Hospital Medical Staff Completes First Ground-Breaking Colon Cancer Surgery

The Following is a Press Release From The Southern Regional Authority - 2024/07/12 

May Pen Hospital Successfully Completes First Ground-Breaking Colon Cancer Surgery The May Pen Hospital (MPH) in Clarendon successfully performed its first laparoscopic colon cancer surgery (colectomy), signaling a new wave of cutting-edge surgeries at the MPH and other hospitals in southern Jamaica. 

Consultant General Surgeon at the hospital, Dr. O’Rane Thomas explained that this is the first the procedure is being performed at the Type B hospital. 

“It has been offered at the University Hospital of the West Indies, the Kingston Public and Mandeville Regional hospitals. In general, this heralds a new wave of cutting-edge surgeries being offered throughout the Southern Regional Health Authority with Percy Junor Hospital offering robotics surgery and Mandeville Regional Hospital and Black River Hospital offering laparoscopic surgeries and May Pen Hospital now on board with more widespread laparoscopic surgeries. We have offered other laparoscopic surgeries in the past including laparoscopic hernias and appendectomies” Dr. Thomas said.

 He further explained that the team offered the patient the option of doing laparoscopic or keyhole surgery.

 “There are a number of advantages when compared to regular or conventional surgery for colon cancer. The conventional surgery involves making a large cut or large incision in the middle of the abdomen but with the laparoscopic surgery the advantages are you have less pain after surgery, it is a smaller incision so better cosmetic outcomes, quicker time to eat and you are back to your regular activity quicker than with regular surgery. 

The general surgeon noted that the patient was pain free the day after the surgery which was done on June 24, 2024 and was able to move about and was discharged on the third day following the surgery.

For the patient, the surgery was very good and successful. 

“I did the surgery the Thursday and by Friday morning I was up and walking. That great major pain, I haven’t felt any of that. In my estimation it was a good achievement. Dr. Thomas and the team did a marvelous job. I found the doctors to be really nice. You feel you are in a safe space because of how the doctors deal with you” the patient said.

Dr. Thomas pointed out that the May Pen Hospital has the basic equipment and technical expertise to offer this surgery to other patients. 

“The team was very excited about doing this ground-breaking procedure. They are always excited about new procedures and the advancement in laparoscopic surgeries being offered at May Pen Hospital. It is a very hardworking and dedicated team and they look forward to doing more of these surgeries at the hospital” Dr. Thomas said.

The hospitals in the Southern Regional Health Authority continue to make significant advancements in cutting-edge procedures and equipment to make the lives of its residents better in the parishes of Clarendon, St. Elizabeth, Manchester and other areas.

The team of surgeons, nurses and anaesthesiologists. The procedure was led by Surgeon, Dr. O’Rane Thomas (4th left). Photographed also are: (left to right): Surgical Scrub Technician, Maxine Thompson; Consultant General Surgeon, Dr. Douglas Jefferson; Anaesthesia Resident, Dr Geneve Llewelyn; Head of Surgery Department, Dr. R. Xenophon Kirby; Surgery Resident; Dr Ranoine Peart; Senior Registrar in Surgery, Dr. Dale Laws; and Registered Nurse Roxania Lambert.

Dr Thomas uses a laparoscopic stapler to perform intracorporal bowel anastomosis (join the ends of bowel through keyhole incision).

Consultant General Surgeon at the MPH, Dr. O’Rane Thomas (centre) and Consultant General Surgeon, Dr. Douglas Jefferson (left) and Senior Registrar in General Surgery at the MPH, Dr. Dale Laws during the recent colon cancer surgery.

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