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First Scleral Buckle Surgeries performed at GPHC
(Kaieteur News) – The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Saturday said it recently performed for the first time, Scleral Buckle Surgeries, a primary method used in retinal detachment repair.
The hospital described the past week as successful noting that in its bid to strengthen specialized eye care in Guyana, there was a week-long surgical partnership from February 9 to 13 with local and international retina specialists. The team worked to manage complex retinal conditions and introduce advanced surgical techniques at the hospital.
GPHC said that the collaboration was led by its very own Dr. Arlene Bobb-Semple, an Ophthalmologist with Vitreoretinal specialty training, alongside visiting U.S. Retina specialist Dr. Krishi Peddada of the World Eye Mission.
The primary objective of the collaboration was to identify and surgically treat particularly challenging Retinal cases while providing hands-on collaboration and mentorship for local surgical teams.
GPHC in collaboration with the World Eye Mission recently performed several retinal surgeries.
“During the mission, a total of 11 complex Retinal surgeries were performed. These included two scleral buckle procedures, which were performed at GPHC for the first time. This milestone represents a significant expansion of the hospital’s Retinal surgical capabilities. Scleral buckle surgery can either be used as a primary method of Retinal detachment repair, or it can be used in conjunction with a vitrectomy in complex and recurrent detachments,” GPHC disclosed.
Kaieteur News understands that Dr. Bobb-Semple is currently the only Retina surgeon practising in Guyana. Since joining GPHC in 2018, she has played a pivotal role in developing the hospital’s Retina services and, following the acquisition of vitrectomy equipment, has been performing complex Retinal surgeries locally since 2021.
“In the absence of a local ophthalmology subspecialty programme, specialists are required to undergo several years of advanced training overseas before returning to serve the country. Dr. Bobb-Semple’s commitment to completing this extensive training, including an additional year of subspecialty training in vitreoretinal surgery, has been key to making advanced Retinal surgery accessible in Guyana and expanding the availability of highly specialized, sight-saving care at GPHC,” the hospital explained.
GPHC stated that the visiting specialist missions provide valuable opportunities for the exchange of skills and advanced techniques, while also reducing the need for overseas referrals and improving access to critical eye care for patients locally.
Further, the ultimate aim of these initiatives is to strengthen GPHCs’ and, by extension, Guyana’s capacity to manage complex retinal diseases.
Focusing on improving access to advanced sight-saving eye care, GPHC expressed that “With continued development, advanced procedures such as scleral buckle surgery have the potential to become routine options for eligible patients. We are proud of the surgical team for this significant and successful collaboration. Their collaborative effort reflects a strong commitment to advancing patient care and expanding specialized services within Guyana’s healthcare system.”
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