My wife and I, both plastic surgeons, will triage and operate on patients at the Obras in Antigua Guatemala. Our typical cases consist of keloid scar reconstruction, burn scar contracture releases/grafting, vascular malformations, secondary cleft rhinoplasty, hand surgery, and lower extremity coverage after traumas. There is a very high orthopedic trauma rate secondary to moped use in the region and without specialty flap options for lower extremity trauma coverage the patients would otherwise be undergoing amputations limiting their ability to work and provide for their families.
The Guatemalan population will benefit from this project. Half of the population falls under the poverty line and 85% of the population is poor or vulnerable to fall into poverty. The Healthcare system in Guatemala is broken. The few national hospitals that do exist are open 4 hours a day and closed for weeks at a time when not enough supplies. Patients have to pay for everything other than a physician consult and so even the middle class cannot afford imaging, diagnostic tests, or surgerical treatments prescribed.
We operate on all age ranges, from infants to elderly, with a focus on restoring form and function. The group we volunteer with has a year round presence that is long established and respected in the region which allows for continuity of care and patient follow up
Our typical mission week includes a full triage day followed by 4 operative days. This typically allows for approximately 25 operative cases during the week. We work closely with the Obras nursing staff and in house facility hospitalist to educate on general postoperative wound management and care that can be translated to any surgical service that rotates through their facility with the FIP teams. Often when we arrive the hospital beds are filled with orthopedic trauma patients they cannot discharge secondary to infection or wound coverage issues. We assist with giving these often young previously mobile patients a chance at limb salvage so they can be discharged home and get back to their families sooner to help support their families.
Our annual medical mission trip to Antigua, Guatemala with Team T. Davis and Faith in Practice was another huge success. We participated on a well rounded and well oiled machine. Joining up with some new volunteers and many great friends who we hadn't seen since last year's trip, we had a great week.
We arrived Saturday and were greeted by our wonderful on country staff at the airport. The sometimes lengthy bus ride from La Aurora to Antigua was very smooth and short unlike some of the previous years.
Sunday we spent our day in the clinic seeing patients who had been scheduled for consideration of surgery. Many patients traveled from far away with a family member, riding local transport buses (camionetas) over 9 hours in for some.
After seeing and evaluating patients, we created a Monday to Thursday OR schedule. Our other friends and staff helped unpack our supplies and make sure everything was ready for the following day. Our anesthesia team also did their preop evaluations.
The rest of the week was a blur:
from a young boy we treated last year for burn scsr contractures to an older man slowly unable to see from upper lid ptosis or a 11 month old with syndactyly, we found many patients to care for during out trip.
The patients and their families' stories, smiles and gratitude were heart warming. These experiences left our cups filled with what is truly important.
As always, I reminded our patients who thanked us that this is experience- to be with them and provide this care is a gift for us all.
We can't wait to return next year.
Faith in practice is a wonderful non profit. I encourage anyone interested to head to their website.
