The battle against cancer took another step forward as a pioneering brand of surgery was demonstrated at Ninewells.
Single port keyhole surgery, a procedure which tackles conditions that can potentially lead to cancer, is now available at Ninewells the first hospital in Scotland to offer such care.
Based in the hospital’s urology department, the procedure is said to be minimally invasive and leaves no scarring behind. Unlike traditional surgery, the surgeon operates through a single entry point.
Ninewells consultant urological surgeon Ghulam Nabi specialises in keyhole surgery for diseases of the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive system.
He said the aesthetic benefits of the new form of surgery would be welcomed by many.
”Single port surgery is more aesthetically pleasing for the patient and is generally favoured by young people, compared to the more traditional methods of laparoscopic procedures,” he said.
”We have been offering these procedures for a range of conditions, which is constantly expanding.”
Information technology technician Ethan Bayne (26) from Perth had been suffering stomach pains for months and had been taking painkillers.
Following a CT scan, staff at Ninewells discovered a cyst on his navel, which could have turned cancerous.
”I was more or less housebound with the pain I was experiencing, which often had me doubled up as my stomach, back and sides were so sore,” he said.
”It affected my social life and mental wellbeing as I was scared to leave the house in case the pain became too much for me to handle, which was all making me seriously depressed.”
Having been recommended for the surgery by Mr Nabi just one of five people to have experienced the process at Ninewells so far an incision was made in Ethan’s navel and surgery completed in an hour.
”I couldn’t even drive as I was on so much medication and it wasn’t safe for me to do so,” added Ethan.
”I had to pretty much put my life on hold. I am really grateful to Mr Nabi and his team.”