Loja, Ecuador 2006 Surgical Trip

Thanks to Luxtec

  Dr. Kristin Steuber Using a Luxtec Headlamp 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Here I am operating on a child’s cleft with the help of a Luxtec headlight. They generously donated four of these units to Interplast, and they really help make our work easier. Sometimes the lights in the operating room leave something to be desired here in Loja, and having these lights lets us see the patient without shadows.

Many companies donate products to Interplast, and we are grateful to include Luxtec on the list.

Ortiz's Cleft Lip: Before, During and After

  Ortiz's cleft lip: before, during and after 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Ortiz was born with a "right complete unilateral cleft lip & palate". This condition is more common on the left side of the patient, which makes right-sided repairs more challenging. Nevertheless, the cleft lip repair was quite successful (the palate repair will happen next year) and you can see the difference pretty clearly.

Ortiz After Surgery With Dad

  Ortiz After Surgery With Dad 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Ortiz's parents were very involved in their child's care. Here is Ortiz and his father in the recovery room. The recovery instructions the pediatrician gives to the parents can sometimes be confusing, but Ortiz's dad made sure he knew everything so he could help his little boy could return to health as soon as possible.

Superman

  Superman 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

"Superman", as the team liked to call him, came to Interplast this year for a cleft palate repair. He had the cutest little superman hat, so he quickly found himself witha nickname.

Last year Interplast repaired his cleft lip. It is pretty common for a patient to have both a cleft lip and palate, and Interplast usually repairs the lip the first year and the palate the second, so the child has time to heal. His parents were always with him and doting on him. We hope as he grows up that he uses his super powers for good.

Some Of The Loja Team

  Some Of The Loja Team 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

From left to right...Top: head nurse Bojan, PACU (post-anesthesia care unit) nurse Cory, chief surgeon Dr. Kristin Stueber, plastic surgeon Dr. Sally Langley, PACU nurse Kim Nguyen, Webster Fellow and plastic surgeon Dr. Ian Wilson. Bottom: anesthesiologist Dr. Linda Bryde.

Six

  Jeremy 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Jeremy is three years and eleven months old. He has six fingers and toes on each hand/foot, and is constantly teased by other kids, who call him "Six". His hands look abnormal and he has difficulty wearing tight pairs of shoes, which are often the only option available to his impoverished family.

  Jeremy's twelve fingers 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Drs. Ian Wilson and Sally Langley removed the extraneous digits (or, for you speakers of medicalese out there, excised the bilateral postaxial polydactyly of fingers and toes) with the assistance of local general surgeons Drs. Jack Banda and Victor Ortega.

  Jeremy's Twelve Toes 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Now that he has ten fingers and toes he will endure less taunting from the other children, and can phyisiologically develop as a normal boy.

  Jeremy after his surgery 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

These pictures were taken with a low-resolution camera phone, so I apologize if they're a little grainy.

Smith And His Mom

  Smith And His Mom 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Smith, shown here with his mom, came from Orianga to receive surgical treatment for his cleft lip.  It was successfully repaired and he will now be an cuter than ever.

Jose and his mother

  Jose and his mother 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Jose and his mother after his cleft palate repair. They travelled for five hours to get to Loja, where Jose's mom was told that the Interplast team was coming.  She was very grateful for Jose's free surgery.

We on the team thank Ruth Kyes for her sponsorship of this surgical trip in honor of her late husband, Dr. Melvin Kyes, who was an anesthesiologist in Santa Barbara, California.  Without Ruth's generosity, none of us would be able to operate on children like Jose here in Loja.   The parents of the  patients thank us because we are the most visible part of Interplast, but people like Ruth Kyes are really responsible for enabling  Interplast to change people's lives.   Ruth also donates her time as a volunteer nurse for Interplast and will be joining the medical team in Dhaka.

Hungry Patient After Surgery

  Hungry Patient After Surgery 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Maria Jose is two months old and had her cleft lip repaired by plastic surgeon Kristin Stueber. She will return next year to have her palate repaired as well.

Cool Mural in the Hospital Hallway

  Cool Mural in the Hospital Hallway 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

This mural adorns the hallway in the hospital here in Loja. Isn't it cool?!?

Clinic Day

  Ian Wilson, a patient and Sally Langley 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Plastic surgeons Ian Wilson (who is also our new Webster Fellow) and Sally Langley are shown here working during clinic day with a patient. The main task during clinic day is to schedule the patients and approve them for surgery. This entails recording their medical history, checking them out, gauging the severity of their deformity / injury and penciling them in for surgery. It's always a hectic day!

Setting The Schedule

  Setting The Schedule 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Hi.  This is a blog from the 2006 Interplast surgical team in Loja, Ecuador.  For two weeks we will be operating on poor children for free here in Loja, and we hope to use this blog to post some of our pictures and stories. 

Chief surgeon Kristin Stueber and team leader Maggie Loya (who is also coordinator/translator) are shown here setting the schedule for the first week.