Today was the second surgical day at The Obras Hospital for Team Hope in Motion. Many activities were happening simultaneously including post-op rounds, pre-op preparation, hip and knee replacements, foot and ankle procedures, post op care and physical therapy. I will walk through all these aspects of the day.
After the usual daily routine at the Quinta de las Flores, Team HIM was in full swing with all aspects of care. The day began with rounds on the floor. The surgeons were greeted by the patients with smiles and some grimaces as their surgical wounds were healing. The Physical Therapy Team was hard at work getting patients out of their beds and on their feet walking the day after their surgery. The first steps were tentative but as the hip, knee and foot patients grew more confident in their stride, their steps became more confident and smiles began to sweep across their faces. The beginning of their new lives had just begun.
In the operating rooms another 19 procedures were performed with 10 knees, 5 hips and 4 foot and ankle cases. On the hip side, all the patients were severely arthritic and a couple had very deep sockets (protrusio) which caused their joints to freeze up preventing them from walking normally. Dr. Keith Berend did almost all the hips and used the anterior approach, bringing the best hip surgical techniques from the US to Guatemala. The knee patients presented with a variety of levels of arthritis and anatomical abnormalities, but all received expert care and new knee joints which will provide them with pain free walking for years to come. Drs. Lombardi, Mike Berend and Klaassen provided a mighty knee replacement engine that helped a group of 10 folks receive smoothly working knee joints.
It should be noted that Zimmer Biomet has graciously provided implants and instruments for the hip and knee procedures and also personnel to give surgical support and expertise for the surgical procedures. Without this generosity and support, the entire mission would be impossible. On the foot and ankle side, the most challenging case was a 54 year-old woman who was walking on the outside edge of her ankle and the bones in her foot and ankle were literally destroyed. Her ankle was nowhere near being able to provide any motion. Drs. Herbst and Knecht straightened out her foot and fused her ankle in a stable and functional position that will allow her to walk again.
After the patients leave the operating room they are wheeled to the recovery room where a team of expert nurses is there when they open their eyes and greet them with smiles and encouragement that they have made it through surgery. The anesthesia team is also right there with the patients in recovery to make sure the effects of anesthesia wear off properly and any concerns are addressed right on the spot.
All in all, 19 procedures were completed and the team definitely improved their efficiency as the team settled into their roles. Spirits are good and the team is ready to take on another great day of improving Guatemalan lives.
Stay tuned for more tomorrow.
Respectfully submitted,
John White
