With the increase in advanced medical diagnostic equipment, competent personnel and increased health coverage, Brain tumours among other complicated diseases of the central nervous system are increasingly being diagnosed country wide.
Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital has continued to manage these complicated cases and just last week, our Neurosurgery team Led by Dr. Lubasi Manyando, once again successfully performed a Craniotomy and Tumour Resection which is basically the removal of a tumour from the brain. This surgery was performed on an elderly man aged 71 from Kasama that presented with a huge brain tumour weighing about 200 grams which was located on very important and dangerous structures of his brain.
This tumour had caused weakness of the patient’s right limbs of the body, headaches, and seizures with intermittent loss of consciousness. Dr. Lubasi explains that the only definitive treatment plan in such a case is a complete surgical removal of the brain tumour. However, due to its dangerous location, a neurosurgeon needs to be extra careful and very accurate so as not to damage the surrounding structures like the motor cortex and also vital blood vessels that may cause fatality if injured during the process.
Therefore, the success story in this case is that the tumour was removed in totality without injuring the said structures, with minimal bleeding and the patient was extubated (withdrawn from breathing support) during the first hour of his post-surgery in the Intensive care Unit (ICU). He was transferred from the ICU just after a day of his surgery, to the normal wards where he continues to recover awaiting to be discharged to home. His limbs weakness has greatly improved, he no longer has headaches, no seizures and his post-surgical wound has healed very well.
The team managed to completely remove the whole tumour in just 5 to 6 hours.it is with great hope that with the continued improvement in the area of modern and high-tech equipment, the Hospital will continue to record positive outcomes with shortened theatre time and quicker recovery for patients.
The surgical team comprised of Dr. Lubasi Manyando – consultant neurosurgeon, Dr. Ndjobvu and Dr. Kabwe as assistant neurosurgery registrars. Anaesthesia was given by the team led by Dr Marina, Mr Patrick Musonda, Luyando and Sr Lydia Phiri. The scrub nursing team comprised of sister Sinai, Joyce, Omar and was led by Given Mulamba.
With improved health care systems in Zambia, The County will continue to record a reduction on the costs attached to patient referrals abroad. The minimal cost of this procedure abroad is about $ 10,000.00 translating to k 280, 000.00.
The treater team thank the Ministry of Health and Hospital Management for the continued support in ensuring that the necessary, infrastructure, equipment, trained human resource and supplies are available as these are critical aspects that contribute significantly to the health sector in Zambia – as a healthy nation is a productive nation.
Chizongo Siachiwena Public Relations Unit Photo Credit: Musonda Mulenga