Abstract

SA.22.07

Vitreoretinal Diseases: Training program München – Nairobi

Schönfeld C.-L.
Augenklinik Herzog Carl Theodor, München

Background: Vitreoretinal surgery is still rare in East African countries. After the bomb blast at the US Embassy in Nairobi in 1998 two medical doctors from the Ludwigs Maximilians University (LMU) Munich performed first aid vitreoretinal surgery in Nairobi, taking with them the entire technical equipment from Munich. Since then, the University of Nairobi in cooperation with the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) of Kenya decided to establish vitreoretinal surgery in Nairobi. Nairobi University has strong bonds through a signed partnership training program for ophthalmologists in East Africa with the LMU. It was reasonable to create a specialized training program for retinal microsurgery in cooperation with the Munich University. First, the technical equipment was acquired, second a regular training program was established.
Surgeons und Patients: In 1999 the vitreoretinal surgery program started teaching medical doctors and theatre staff at the Kenyatta Hospital in Nairobi. It was planned to invite one visiting vitreoretinal surgeon from Munich every year for one week. Patients were selected according their underlying pathology to be operated either by the visiting surgeon or by the local surgeons.
Results: Since then more than 300 cases of retinal diseases were operated in Nairobi. A great variety of ocular diseases was included, i.e. diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular disorders, retinal detachment and ocular trauma. Until today 3 local doctors from Nairobi have been trained for vitreoretinal surgery. The number of cases done by local vitreoretinal surgeons increased each year. A program was started where patients had to contribute to hospital and surgical costs.
Conclusion: This project demonstrates that teaching technical demanding and difficult surgery as retinal microsurgery onsite in an underdeveloped country is possible. Retinal microsurgery is cost intensive. Therefore, the management of buying consumables, repairing instruments and maintaining technical equipment is challenging.

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