MAXILLARY TUMOR

This young lady came September, 2012 with a right maxillary tumor. We did a maxillectomy and the pathology showed pleomorphic sarcoma. I sent her for radiation but she never went! She came back with a massive growth in the mouth. She could barely breath and it was bleeding so we operated and performed a total maxillectomy. She did great!!! Naturally, she has some problems eating but solved them herself with a bulb syringe.

Pleomorphic sarcoma

After total maxillectomy

Two days after surgery

Feeding with a bulb syringe

BLADDER STONE

We removed a large bladder stone today!

STERNAL TUMOR

The internet has been a problem but I now have a mini-airport station. The connection is slow but adequate. 

The first interesting case to report is a 46 year-old female with a three-year history of a slow growing sternal mass. We were able to get a CT of the chest which showed the mass growing both into and out of the chest with destruction of the sternum. The great vessels appeared to be free from the tumor. We took her to surgery.

As soon as possible, we explored the chest and determined the mass was resectable. The mass extended in to the neck and involved the thyroid so a total thyroidectomy was necessary. In order to close the wound, we performed a right pectoralis muscle flap and reconstructed the lower sternum with mesh. Finally, we mobilized both breasts in order to close the wound. The patient was out of bed the next morning!

Sternal mass

Exposure of the great vessels after resection

Right pectoralis major muscle flap

Flap covering the great vessels

Mesh reconstruction of the lower sternum

Closure

Specimen

Specimen bivalved

One week post surgery

SURGICAL WORKSHOP

ADVANCED GENERAL SURGERY WORKSHOP

SPONSOR: Earthwide Surgical Foundation and the Nigerian Christian Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The workshop will focus on techniques for managing complex and advanced general surgery problems-concentrating on Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology. Advanced techniques for complex hernia repairs will also be addressed.

Each surgical participant will learn 

1. Head and neck examination

2. Indications for biopsy in neck masses

3. Anatomy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve

4. Anatomy of the facial nerve

5. Techniques of skin closure

6. Techniques of suturing and knot tying

7. Basics of oncology/chemotherapy

8. Techniques of hemostatic control with Floseal

9. Techniques of abdominal surgery epecially concerning surgical staplers

10. Techniques of radical neck dissection, total thyroidectomy, mastectomy, parotidectomy, skin grafting, hysterectomy, hernia repair, skin cancer, maxillectomy, mandibulectomy, splenectomy, GI surgery, cholecystectomy

11. Management of toxic goiter

12. Management of drains

TIME/LOCATION: September 22-October 15, 2013 at the Nigerian Christian Hospital, Mile 11 Ikot Ekpene Rd, Aba, Abia State

PROCTOR: The Lead Proctor will be Brian Camazine, MD, a Harvard University trained General/Thoracic Surgeon. Dr. Camazine is President/Founder of Earthwide Surgical Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the surgical care of the poor of the world. He has over 25 years experience in humanitarian work in Nigeria.

COST: Training, room and board will be free

THESE GUYS ARE GENIUSES!!

Eric Oje and wilson Anyanwu are nurse anesthetists. The best in the whole world-no joking. Here they are using an obdurate to intubate a difficult thyroid patient with a substernal goiter compressing the trachea. There is nothing that can stop them!

OLD HOME WEEK FOR THE MAXILLA

These two patients came for a check up. They had excision of the maxilla during the previous two trips. They are very happy with the results.

Left maxillectomy

Right maxillectomy

BAD HAIR DAY

Pre and post maxillectomy for fibrous dysplasia. The floor of the orbit was destroyed by the tumor and the eye was sitting on the tumor. We reconstructed the orbital floor with vicryl mesh.