‘Operation Rainbow’ exceeds expectations

Health Minister John Rahael yesterday gave the assurance that other foreign surgical teams would be brought to Trinidad and Tobago to treat children and adults whose cases were “too complex” for them to benefit from free plastic surgery provided by Operation Rainbow. Approximately 60 surgeries and 77 procedures were done on patients ranging in ages from under one year to over 40 years at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. Seventy-four children and adults were screened last weekend and surgery began on Monday. Three operating theatres were used. At a media briefing at the EWMSC, Rahael said based on the screening that took place, local surgeon Dr Roopnarine Lalla would determine whether another team would be brought in to spend more time in TT. “We are continually going to try and deal with all the illnesses and deformities our citizens may have.” The assurance was given after Dr Michael Goldwasser disclosed that the complexity of some cases did not qualify them for surgery.

Some of the surgeries would have taken between six and ten hours. “We were not able to treat many of those patients. We had to prioritise on a needs basis and determine which procedures would be beneficial to the most patients.” Dr Goldwasser, of the University of Illinois Medical School, said some of the children were otherwise ill. “Their needs were not things we would normally treat. Some of the patients were sick and certainly we would not operate on them in our hospital at home.” He said the children have to be in the best state of health to have anaesthetics and an invasive procedure. Two types of procedures were completed by the Operation Rainbow team, the first, reconstructive surgery for hands and feet deformities and congenital deformities, while other surgeries were burn treatment for scar tissue. Dr Goldwasser said he worked in the theatre where maxillofacial and reconstructive surgery was performed. “Those procedures were all cleft lip or cleft palate related procedures.

Most of the patients in my room were very young children down to about 12 weeks.” Sixteen surgeries were done for cleft lip/palate and scar tissue. Surgery was also done for the removal of skin tumours and other ailments. Rahael said cost of the surgeries ranged from TT$40,000-$250,000. However, he said the cost could not be measured when compared with what had been accomplished. He said local doctors and nurses deserved “high marks” for the assistance they provided. The Health Ministry subsidised the airfare and accommodation of the surgical team. Frank Cascio, Director of International Programmes and a board member of Operation Rainbow said the trip to TT ranks at the top in facilities and the welcome the team received. “We truly exceeded our expectations with the number and type of procedures we were able to do and we are very satisfied.” Fifty-four cases were originally scheduled. Operation Rainbow is a non-profit group of doctors dedicated to bringing specialised medical services to the developing world.