Surgeons’ scalpels improve lives in Cambodia

CHILREN'S SURGICAL CENTRE, PHNOM PEHN, Kingdom of Cambodia-Navy Lt. Charles J. Siegert, left, a general surgeon with 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and Huot Vutha, right, a Cambodian surgery trainee, work alongside each other to perform a surgical operation on a baby at Children's Surgical Centre, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia. The surgical training is part of Cambodia Interoperability Program 2011, a regularly-held exercise between the U.S. and Cambodian forces that allows both nations to conduct joint-medical and dental operations, improve interoperability through working together and foster goodwill to ensure regional peace and stability., Cpl. Kentavist P. Brackin, 6/27/2011 7:13 AM

7/15/2011
By Cpl. Kentavist P. Brackin
US Marine Corps Bases Japan

PHNOM PEHN, Kingdom of Cambodia — The surgery team attached to 3rd Medical Battalion recently concluded joint training with Cambodian medical personnel during surgical operations at the Children’s Surgical Centre, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.

The battalion, part of 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, offers the surgical training as a new addition to Cambodia Interoperability Program 2011, a regularly held exercise between the U.S. and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces allowing both nations to conduct joint medical and dental operations, improve interoperability and foster goodwill to ensure regional peace and stability.

“This is the first time that I know of that a surgery team has ever participated in a MEDCAP with 3rd Medical Battalion,” said Navy Lt. Charles J. Siegert, a general surgeon with 3rd Med. Bn. “I think the knowledge will have a long-lasting effect on the Cambodian medical personnel and local community.”

The team consisted of four personnel from the battalion’s Forward Resuscitative Surgical System. The team performed minor surgical procedures and screened patients in need of invasive surgery during the Medical Civic Action Program outreach projects setup by U.S. and RCAF medical personnel in the Kampot province.

The CSC, one of the few places offering surgical procedures in Cambodia, is operated mostly by volunteers and is equipped with both modern and somewhat old medical equipment.

Surgery personnel helped restore some of the older equipment at the CSC while educating the medical staff how to use some of the modern equipment for operations such as hernia removal and laparoscopic surgery. One of the most modern techniques, laparoscopic surgery, involves inserting a very small camera through a thin tube placed in small incisions for reduced pain and recovery time.

Working at the center has been a great opportunity for medical trainees and has allowed the opportunity to gain knowledge they can share with other medical personnel, according to Huot Vutha, a surgery trainee at the CSC.

“I liked working with the U.S. doctors,” said Vutha. “They taught me the proper procedures for many surgeries that we were not able to do until recently in Cambodia and guided me through several of the actual surgeries.”

The surgical operations at the CSC have allowed him and his Cambodian counterparts to learn a lot from each other, according to Siegert.

“One interesting thing I learned from the staff is that they give extra stitches to many of the locals here because they know as soon as they leave the center they will immediately go back to doing whatever hard work they were engaged in,” said Siegert. “This can be used to benefit many of the Marines that we see everyday; some that don’t really have time and others really don’t take the time to let their own injuries heal.”

The surgery team and Cambodian medical personnel’s exchange of knowledge and surgical procedures was a great benefit and to many local residents who were able to receive treatment.

One of the largest and most difficult surgeries to take place at the CSC was the removal of a 25-pound tumor from a patient’s side.

“Before the removal of the tumor I was unhappy because I didn’t feel normal and it was difficult for me to do a lot of things, especially walking,” said Pha Nit, a 31-year old Cambodian resident who received the surgery. “I am very happy now and thankful for the help the U.S. and Cambodian doctors gave me, I hope they will continue to come here to help others like me.”