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Euracare claims first liver bypass in Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa

By Stanley Akpunonu
23 May 2019   |   3:22 am
A team of medical experts at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital Lagos has said that harnessing the nation’s resources and Public Private Partnership can stem the rate of medical tourism ravaging the country.  Recording a major feat in the industry, Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital prides itself as the first hospital in Nigeria and Sub Saharan region to perform…

Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital

A team of medical experts at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital Lagos has said that harnessing the nation’s resources and Public Private Partnership can stem the rate of medical tourism ravaging the country. 

Recording a major feat in the industry, Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital prides itself as the first hospital in Nigeria and Sub Saharan region to perform Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) through the minimally invasive liver procedure.

TIPS is a procedure that uses imaging guidance to connect the portal vein to the hepatic vein in the liver.
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Vascular and Interventional Radiologist, Dr Hammed Ninalowo, the leader of the team said the medical subspecialty utilises minimally invasive image-guided techniques to diagnose and treat diseases using the least invasive technique in order to minimise risk and improve health outcomes.

He said that TIPS is applicable in any patient with a history of liver disease and portal hypertension which may be caused by Hepatitis B infection, alcohol liver diseases and noon alcohol fatty liver diseases.  

Commenting on the milestone, Ninalowo said the procedure was carried out on a 20-year-old Ouwatosin Ojelabi who has suffered from Budd Chiari syndrome for three years.

Budd Chiari syndrome is the occlusion of the hepatic vein (the vein that carries blood out of the liver) or inferior vena cava (the big vein that carries blood to the heart) with symptoms like the loss in muscle mass and significant distension of the abdomen.

The United States trained Vascular and Interventional Radiologist said the TIPS procedure include liver bypass done with the minimally invasive technique with no cutting or major surgery involved adding that a stent graft is placed to bypass the obstruction in the liver, bridging the portal vein and hepatic vein.
 
“We are happy to provide an alternative procedure for patients, one that is favourable for the patient. It is exciting to be able to perform the first TIPS procedure in Nigeria. With various techniques such as angiography, angioplasty, stenting, thrombolysis, embolization, ablation,” he added.

 
Ninalowo said that Interventional radiology treatments can be the first-line care option for a wide variety of conditions like blocked fallopian tubes, malignant tumours in lung and liver cancer, fibroids and non-healing ulcers on diabetic patients.

He noted that Interventional Radiology treatments do not involve open surgery allowing for small to no incisions, short hospital stay, quick recovery time, less scarring reduced blood loss and reduced apprehension.

Medical Director, Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital Dr. Tosin Majekodunmi noted that the success of the procedure is testament to Euracare’s innovation and professionalism.

Majekodunmi said the breakthrough is part of the hospital’s commitment to reducing medical tourism by Nigerians.

“As the leading multi-specialist hospital in Nigeria, we are committed to providing excellent care for our patients and procedures like TIPS, which requires complex interventional radiology, allow us to showcase our expertise especially to people who normally would prefer to travel abroad for procedures,” he added.

The medical director said the procedure will broaden the medical landscape and redefining standards of healthcare practice in Nigeria.

 
 
 

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