by Iyad Saleh
The surgery team in La Dalia completed 16 surgeries Tuesday and haven’t slowed down!
The team was prepared to have laparoscopic equipment available but found that it did not work well. As our teams quickly learn the best thing to pack on a trip is flexibility! The team did 7 open gall bladder procedures, removed multiple lipomas and did a few hernia repairs alongside the local surgeon. Dr. Bottcher and the local anesthesiologist, Julio, worked together on cases and exchanged a few tricks.
The local surgeon performed two open cholecystectomy yesterday. The team was able to take time to show him how to use the Alexis device (pictured below). It took a little practice but he caught on quickly and once he saw how well it worked and easy it was to use- he loved it!!
Central America 