The Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH) has started its Neurological surgery services at its Nadi Hospital branch in Legalega this month.
The 100-bed multi-speciality private hospital performed its first Neuro-Spine surgery (multi-level posterior decompression) on Friday, only a week after having performed its first brain surgery for a patient suffering from a brain tumour.
After its official opening on the 4th of July, the Hospital has already performed a number of advanced surgeries, diagnostics and private birthing.
Speaking after the first spinal case for the PSH Nadi, locum Neurosurgeon Dr Alan Biribo says they have been providing neurological operations for quite a few years out of their branch in Suva and now, they are capable of doing even more.
He says neurosurgery has been in Fiji for many years, however, they are now branching out more into minimally invasive solutions like microscopic and endoscopic surgeries.
Dr Biribo says their services were first established in the public sector at CWM Hospital but could not fully transit to a private setting due to the lack of appropriate infrastructure and equipment and this gap has been filled by their Nadi Hospital.
He adds the cases carried out yesterday and a few days earlier were crucial to ensure the patients can live a healthy and fulfilling life post-surgery.
Dr Biribo says, for example, a brain surgery they did a few days ago here at PSH Nadi, the patient had headaches, seizures and was unable to work.
He says the patient had a tumour which they operated on, and now the patient is doing well and likely to return to work soon.
He further says the spine procedure he and his team did yesterday was another important one, as the patient was losing the ability to walk properly, losing balance and having pain and numbness in the legs.
He adds this patient is now recovering well, and barring any complications the patient is expected to be home within 4 to 5 days.
The Doctor says surgery is usually followed by adequate rehabilitation or physical therapy to maximise recovery and function.
He says these neurological problems are quite common in Fiji and the region as we tend to present very late to the hospital, and Fijians need to see the doctors early and not leave it too late.
He also says that sometimes symptoms like headaches are ignored, however, those headaches can be signs of major Neurological conditions.
The Neurological procedures at PSH Nadi were performed by PSH locum Neurosurgeon Dr Alan Biribo and a team of 8 PSH OT specialists.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
