CCMC now offers laparoscopy

CEBU, Philippines - A seven year-old boy from Toledo City can now live normally after undergoing a free surgery that opened his anus.

“He will no longer be laughed at by his classmates. I feel so happy that my son can now move freely,” the teary-eyed mother of the patient said.

“Adrian” (not his real name) was the recipient of the very first laparoscopic-assisted imperforate anus surgery in Cebu which was done Friday morning at the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) by Pediatric Surgeon and CCMC consultant Noel Astrologo.

Imperforate anus is a defect that is present from birth (congenital) in which the opening to the anus is missing or blocked.

The boy was born without a hole in his anus.

And as a temporary solution, he has undergone a colostomy where a hole in his abdomen was created to discharge digestive wastes.

Laparoscopic surgery is called “band-aid” surgery since it is minimally invasive and has less incisions as opposed to traditional abdominal surgerical procedures.

“Keyhole” surgery, as it is also known, makes use of images displayed on TV monitors to magnify the surgical elements.

This technology also shortens recovery period of patients because of minimal incisions.

“Depending on the person’s body, a patient can even go home a day after a surgery kay gamay ra man ang samad, (…just a minor wound),” CCMC Chief of  hospital Dra. Gloria Duterte said.

CCMC’s advanced medical equipment is intended for those who cannot afford to have the procedure in private hospitals.

Duterte said the procedure normally costs P100,000 in private hospitals but CCMC will give it for only P20,000.

“This is because we wanted Cebuanos to avail of this medical service at a lower cost. Also, this is helpful in the enhancement to our surgery department,” Duterte told The Freeman.

Indigent patients may get the procedure for another discounted cost if they are admitted under the City Hospitalization Assistance and Medicines Program (CHAMP), the amount goes down to P10,000.

Apart from the multi-million laparoscopy acquired by the city hospital, Duterte said they are awaiting the promised CT-scan apparatus by the Department of Health (DOH).

“These advancements will surely improve our services to the Cebuanos,” Duterte added. (FREEMAN)