Aga Khan University Hospital has successfully performed the first vNOTES surgical technique in the region.
This innovative approach allows for the treatment of various gynaecological conditions through the vaginal opening without requiring external abdominal incisions.
Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (vNOTES) is a minimally invasive surgical technique that utilizes specialized instruments inserted through the vagina to access the pelvic cavity. This eliminates the need for abdominal skin incisions, providing a less invasive approach to gynaecological surgery.
Dr. Bob Achila, Lead Surgeon and Consultant Urogynaecologist at Aga Khan University Hospital, explained that vNOTES combines the benefits of laparoscopic and vaginal surgery.
While both “aim to minimize scarring and recovery time,” vNOTES offers the added advantage of avoiding external cuts.
“While both vNOTES and minimally invasive surgery aim to minimize scarring and speed up recovery, vNOTES achieves this by avoiding any external cuts, operating solely through the vagina, whereas minimally invasive surgery involves small abdominal incisions,” said Dr Achila.
Compared to laparoscopic surgery, vNOTES offers several benefits:
- No visible scars
- Shorter hospital stay
- Reduced post-operative pain
- Quicker recovery
- Less reliance on pain medication
- Cost-effective due to reduced operating time and hospital stay
vNOTES can be used to treat a variety of gynaecological conditions, including hysterectomy, fallopian tube and ovarian surgeries, and pelvic organ prolapse. As more gynaecologists gain experience with this technique, its applications are expanding.
While vNOTES has been in use for about ten years globally, it is a relatively new technique in Africa, including East Africa. To perform vNOTES, a doctor must have specialized training in minimally invasive surgery and vNOTES techniques.
Professor Elkanah Omenge, Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, emphasized the significance of this medical breakthrough.
“Our desire to give patients the best care drives our quest to continuously improve our training, update our skills and remain innovative to keep abreast with the ever-changing healthcare landscape, benchmarked with the best healthcare practices across the globe,” says Professor Omenge.
He stated that AKUH’s commitment to research and academic excellence drives its pursuit of innovative techniques to provide the best care for patients.