Difficult cases, scorpions and Goulash soup – Hungarian neurosurgeons in Malawi
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A group of Hungarian neurosurgeons are working currently in Malawi, Africa. Globoport tells the story of their first week, which was filled with difficult, yet, successful surgeries, teaching, and getting to know – and adjust to – life in Africa.
The participants of the 17th medical and 3rd surgical mission of the African Hungarian Union (AHU) all came from the Hungarian National Institute of Neurosurgery, namely Dr József Árpád Kelemen (anaesthetist and intensive therapist), Dr Balázs Markia (head physician of paediatric neurosurgery), Dr Gábor Nagy (head physician of neurosurgery), Dr Adrien Dorina Rácz and Dr László Szegedi (both of them are neurosurgeon registrars).
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The surgeons were prepared to meet with cases in Africa that they would not see in Hungary, and so it happened.
They had really serious cases in Blantyre, the second biggest city of Malawi. The surgery series began with children in severe health states, who are now on their way to a fast recovery, thanks to the Hungarian surgeons.
On this Tuesday, they were about to remove a tumour from the brain of a 57-year-old man. However, it turned out that they may be faced with a tuberculoma – which is a tumour-like lump intergrowth following tuberculosis. This is a frequent case in South East Africa, but not in Hungary: the surgeons have never actually seen such a thing before. It is yet unknown what the lump really is, the histology will be ready by Monday.
On average, there are two complicated surgeries per day, performed by the Hungarian neurosurgeons. The surgeries are performed by two split teams. These are mostly cases that the local neurosurgeons are unable to treat.
So far, all the operations were successful, the condition of the patients is improving.
On Thursday, the first operation was the removal of an acoustic neuroma. Even though this was a complex, 4-5 hours long surgery, the team still had time to examine five children at the Jacaranda school (the school receives funds from the African Hungarian Union).
