SUPPLIES

Here are the supplies for the trip. I hope they can all fit in Carry-On!

MURDER, MAYHEM, CHAOS AND SURGERY

2012 is starting out as an inauspicious year for Nigeria. There is murder and mayhem in the north as muslims and christians are killing each other.

Bombing at a church in the North

Throughout Nigeria there are riots over fuel subsidies which have created chaos throughout the land

Fuel subsidy riots

But as the 7 dwarfs say-Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Its Off to Work We Go! I am off to Nigeria tomorrow! Patients are already lining up for surgery. 

2011 NEWSLETTER

 EARTHWIDE SURGICAL FOUNDATION

2011 SUMMARY

I would like to thank all our generous contributors. It has been approximately six years since Earthwide Surgical Foundation was granted 501(C)(3) non-profit status by the Internal Revenue Service. I am very happy with our progress towards achieving the Foundation’s goals, namely, to deliver surgical care to the poor of the world by means of manpower, equipment and education. The following are some of the highlights of the past year:

MISSION TRIPS

1. On 2/10/11,  Dr. Camazine returned to the Nigerian Christian Hospital for a mission trip. During this visit, 13 Nigerian upper level healthcare workers including 6 surgeons, 3 surgical residents, and 1 nurse anesthetists joined him. All these individuals came to learn and donate their time and energy. During a 18-day period, over 600 patients were treated and 137 major operations performed. This trip to Nigeria was unusual in that all members of the team were Nigerians except Dr. Camazine. This aspect of the trip is quite unique and we were very proud to get such a strong local participation. Participating physicians included Drs. Onkeonye, Ifeanyi, Bock, Ngwu, Akpanudo, Jambo, Eguzo, Enyinnah, and Mishack.

2. On 6/4/11, Dr. Camazine and his daughter, Maraya (19), joined Health Talents International on a surgical mission trip to Guatemala. They performed performed 33 procedures on 27 patients 5 days.

3. On 6/18/11, Susan Camazine, RN, joined the Caris Foundation team for a surgical mission trip to Malindi, Kenya. In five days, Susan scrubbed on over 60 operations.

4. On 6/24/11, Dr. Camazine returned to the Nigerian Christian Hospital for a mission trip. During this visit, 14 Nigerian upper level healthcare workers including 7 Attending Physicians, 5 surgical residents, and 2 nurse anesthetists joined him. All these individuals came to learn and donate their time and energy. During a 3 week-period, 150 major operations were performed and over 600 patients were treated. All members of the team were Nigerians except Dr. Camazine. This aspect of the trip is quite unique and we were very proud to get such a strong local participation. Participating healthcare providers included Drs. Onkeonye, Ifeanyi, Bock, Ngwu, Akpanudo, Jombo, Eguzo, Ezeonwumelo, Nwajei, Akpan Akunekwe, Umerzerike, Oje and Anyanwu.  With the “loaner” ultrasound from SonoSite, many scans were performed. Dr. Camazine did a daily Blog, which was well received.

5. On 9/24/11, Dr. Camazine returned to the Nigerian Christian Hospital for a mission trip. During this visit, 9 Nigerian upper level healthcare workers including 6 Attending Physicians, 2 surgical residents, and 1 nurse anesthetists joined him.  All these individuals came to learn and donate their time and energy. During a 3 week-period, 133 major operations were performed and over 700 patients were treated. All members of the team were Nigerians except Dr. Camazine. This aspect of the trip is quite unique and we were very proud to get such a strong local participation. Participating healthcare providers included Drs. Onkeonye, Ifeanyi, Ngwu, Jombo, Eguzo, Ezeonwumelo, Umerzerike, Oje, Nwajei and Anyanwu. Dr. Camazine did a daily Blog, which was well received.

PROJECTS

1. Earthwide has started a new project called the Henry Farrar Memorial Fund to honor the great missionary surgeon Henry Farrar, MD. The fund will support the teaching of local surgeons, one of the main goals of Eathwide.

2. Earthwide, with the assistance of Al Jones, MD, is supporting the Bachelor of Science in Nursing training of Eric Oje.

3. Dan Milner, MD, Assistant Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School, and Pathologist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, processed the surgical specimens from the Nigeria trips. His services are greatly appreciated and will greatly improve the quality of care to our patients.

4. Dr. Camazine has initiated collaboration between Nigerian physicians and Dr. Phalguni Mukhopadhyay, oncologist at the Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Temple, Tx. Dr. Mukhopadhyay has agreed to assist with chemotherapy protocols so that the Nigeria physicians can provide care for their cancer patients.

5. Dr. Camazine has expanded the teaching opportunities in Nigeria by introducing “Surgical Workshops”. These are hands on teaching opportunities for Nigerian Surgeons. Surgical colleagues from many different parts of Nigeria have been invited to join the team at the Nigerian Christian Hospital and learn from the unique surgical pathology. Physicians from Delta, Benin, Abia, River, Enugu, and Anumbra States have participated.

6.  Dr. Camazine, with the assistance of SonoSite, Inc. has started an Ultrasound workshop in Nigeria to teach local physicians the use of portable ultrasound. SonoSite, Inc. has provided a “loaner” portable ultrasound for this purpose. Clinical experience, combined with Internet teaching opportunities, will provide the opportunity for the local physicians to become proficient in this diagnostic modality.

7. Dr. Camazine wrote a book about his work at the Nigerian Christian Hospital. It will be published with the assistance of Dr. John Bailey and Body and Soul Ministries.

8. Dr. Camazine and Dr. Kelechi Eguzo are writing a book called “Where There Is No Oncologist”. This will be a practical, how-to do-it, manual for chemotherapy in resource-limited environments.

9. Drs. Camazine, Egozo and Milner wrote an article “Giant dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the face and scalp: A case report” for publication.

10. Drs. Camazine, Akunekwe, and Milner wrote an article “Synovial sarcoma in the anterior abdominal wall of a young Nigerian female: case report” for publication.

11. Earthwide Surgical foundation is joining with Professionals for Humanity to run a free 3-week surgical clinic in Bayelsa and Kaduna States, Nigeria.

12.  Dr. Camazine started a daily Blog on the work of Earthwide Surgical Foundation. It can be seen at www.earthwidesurgicalfoundation.blogspot.com.

13. Jose Ramirez, CST, who has participated on numerous mission trips, gave a lecture at the Annual Houston Workshop Texas State Assembly of A.S.T., Inc. on 10/16/11. His lecture, on his work at the Nigerian Christian Hospital with Earthwide, was very well received.

SUPPORT AND DONATIONS

1. The employees at Good Shepherd Medical Center (Longview, TX) donated medical equipment for the African trips.

2. The employees at ETMC Carthage Hospital (Carthage, TX) donated medical equipment for the African trip.

3. The employees at ETMC Gilmer Hospital (Gilmer, TX) donated medical equipment for the African trip.

4. The employees at Metroplex Adventist Hospital (Killeen, TX) donated medical equipment for the African trips.

5. The employees at Longview Regional Medical Center (Longview, TX) donated medical equipment for the African trips.

6. Ethicon Inc. (via MAP International) donated a huge amount of mesh and suture for hernia repairs, which were critical to our surgeries.

7.  Baxter (via Americares) supplied Floseal for hemostasis for our difficult surgeries.

8. Tyco Healthcare/Kendall (via Americares) donated a large supply of dressings and Xeroform for our work.

9. Teva pharmaceuticals (via Americares) donated Etodolac for postoperative pain control.

10. Ortho-McNeil Inc. (via Americares) donated Ultram for postoperative pain control.

11. Schering-Plough Corp. (via Americares) donated Afrin Nasal Spray for our ENT work.

12. App Pharmaceuticals (via Americares) donated Cefazolin and Ceftriaxone  for our work.

13. Johnson & Johnson Co. (via Americares) donated Neoform Tutoplast Dermis for our work.

14. Syneture (via Americares) donated suture for our work.

15. Hospira (via Americares) donated Precedex for our work.

16. AutoSuture (via Americares) donated skin staplers for our work.

17. ValleyLab (via Americares) donated electrodes and electrocautery pencils for our work

18. C.R. Bard (via Americares) donated Avitene, mesh and drains for our work.

19. CooperSurgical donated Lone Star Retractor Kits, gynecological instruments and laparoscopic equipment to Earthwide.

20. Ethicon (via Ryan Newhouse) donated mesh for our many hernia repairs.

21. Integra LifeSciences Corporation donated a skin grafting knife and blades for use in our many plastic surgery cases.

23. Walking in Love Ministries donated suture and equipment for upcoming trips to the Eku Baptist Hospital and the Nigerian Christian Hospital.

24. Atrium Medical donated surgical mesh for hernia repair for our work.

25. Fred Ingham, ETMC BioMed Division, donated valuable diagnostic and monitoring equipment to Earthwide.

26. SonoSite, Inc. provided a “loaner” ultrasound for the work in Nigeria.

27. Friends of Ostomates Worldwide-USA (FOW-USA) donated ostomy supplies for patients who require ostomies. This is very important for these unfortunate patients since quality ostomy supplies are either not available or very expensive in Nigeria.

28. Applied Medical donated a selection of surgical supplies including laparoscopic cholangiocaths, laparoscopic clip appliers and Alexis retractors.

29. Biogel USA donated gloves for our trips.

30. Kate Neylon, from Ethicon Endosurgery, sent an emergency supply of staplers overnight for the September trip. These staplers will save the lives of 4-5 patients with abdominal disasters.

31. W. Todd Allen, DVM, donated surgical staplers for our work.

32. The Merci Program (Medical Equipment Recovery of Clean Inventory), via Sandi Luthie, of the University of Virginia Health System, donated valuable supplies for our mission trip to Nigeria.

33. Earthwide Surgical received donations from the following individuals:

1.     Josephs/Chinme Anudokem

2.     Mark Becker

3.     Charles Branch, MD

4.     Cynthia Camazine

5.     Mark Crane, MD

6.     Diane Dibenedetto

7.     Peggy Dorrell

8.     Alan Freedman

9.     Patricia George

10.  Ted Hopens, MD

11.  Azikiwe Ikeora, MD

12.  Lloyd Jones, MD

13.  Robert Lawrence, MD

14.  Barbara Maufas, RN

15.  John Melvin, MD

16.  David/Joyce Newhouse

17.  Eileen Padberg

18.  David Price

19.  Gurram Reddy, MD

20.  George Robertson, MD

21.  Carol Rogalski

22.  Hiroshi Takita, MD

23.  Don Thompson

24.  James Walsh, MD

25.  M. Jill Wehmer

     

34.  Earthwide Surgical received donations from the following organizations:

1.     Americares (Cia Marion)

2.     Atrium Medical (Dan Hill/Trey Merkens)

3.     Biogel USA (Brian Conom)

4.     Body and Soul Ministries (Dr. John Bailey)

5.     CooperSurgical (Victoria Ziko)

6.     Covidien

7.     Ethicon Endosurgery (Kate Neylon)

8.     ETMC Carthage Hospital

9.     ETMC Gilmer Hospital

10.  ETMC Tyler Hospital

11.  Friends of Ostomates USA (FOW-USA) (Ruth Salinger)

12.  Good Shepherd Medical Center

13.  Ethicon (Ryan Newhouse)

14.  Integra Life Sciences Corporation (Gianna Sabella)

15.  International Health Care Foundation (Al Jones, MD)

16.  Longview Regional Medical Center

17.  MAP International (Anne Blount)

18.  Merci Program (Sandi Luthie)

19.  Regency Therapeutics (Reagan Ragnes)

20.  Walking in Love Ministries (Mary Kay/Fred Posey)

AWARDS

1.     Dr. Camazine was awarded “Man of the Year” by the Nigerian Christian Hospital.

2.  Drs. Onkeonye and Ifeanyi were awarded “Missionaries of the Year” by the Nigerian Christian Hospital.

WHAT DO WE PLAN TO ACCOMPLISH?

1.     We will continue supporting the Bachelor of Science in Nursing training of Eric Oje.

2. We plan to produce a video from our last trip as well as CDs of our digital pictures.

3. We are intensifying our efforts to obtain needed supplies and equipment. Many companies have been very generous.

Brian Camazine, MD

President, Earthwide Surgical Foundation

1933 Eastwood Drive

Henderson, TX 75652

254-718-0659

NEXT TRIP

My next trip to Nigeria will be early January 2012. Too long for me, but too short for my wife. Supplies are starting to arrive from all over the country.

FOLLOWUP-AMELOBLASTOMA

 

This 13 year old had a right hemimandibulectomy for a mural ameloblastoma on 10/18/11 (my birthday!). She had a wound complication but has healed fantastically. The followup picture is about 7 weeks after surgery. She is speaking and eating fine.

SERTOLI-LEYDIG CELL TUMOR

During this past trip, a 21 year old female came to clinic with a pelvic mass. In 2010 she had a laparotomy with excision of her left ovary for a tumor. Unfortunately, she was lost to followup and never received chemotherapy. 

We reoperated on this patient. We found a tumor recurrence anterior to the bladder, which we resected. The pathology showed a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor, which is a member of the sex cord-stromal tumors. This tumor can produce androgens (male hormones) in one third of patients and cause masculinization including acne and hirsutism, voice deepening, clitoromegally, temporal hair recession, and an increase in musculature. These tumors are sometimes called arrhenoblastomas or androblastomas.

Our patient recovered without difficulty and is now receiving chemotherapy.

GOOD NEWS-YOU HAVE BASIDIOBOLOMYCOSIS

On my last trip, Ika Imene, a 60 year-old man,  arrived with a right lower quadrant mass and abdominal distention. We operated and found a large 8 cm cecal mass. We did a right hemicolectomy. When we cut the specimen open, we found a near obstructing mass in the colon. I was sure we were dealing with a colon cancer.  Ika recovered without any complications but I thought his chances of cure were slim.

Yesterday, Dr. Danny Milner contacted me with the pathology results. Great news-the patient doesn't have cancer, he has basidiobolomycosis. I never heard of this before and I doubt many people have. Basidiowhatever is a rare disease caused by the fungus basidiobolus ranarum, an environmental saprophyte found worldwide. Treatment is surgery combined with antifungals. Great news for the patient.