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The Bamako project consists of the training of surgeons, anesthetists and African medical eqiupment engineers in laparoscopic surgery: surgical techniques, the use of low intrusive instruments and anesthetic protocol, are all taught with the “on site” support of specialist Europeans (surgeons, in teams with anesthetist and medical equipment engineer).
The experience started several years ago thanks to the interest of Prof. Perissat, pioneer of the minimally-invasive French surgery, and of some other French surgeons such as Dr E. Estour and Dr Ph. Espalieu.
Under the guidance of European surgical societies, such as the EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY, and the French society SOCIETÈ FRANCAISE DE CHIRURGIE ENDOSCOPIQUE , such collaboration became in time an authentic project of cooperation with Mali's surgeons.
The hospital concerned is the Hopital du Point G, directed by Prof Sambou Soumaré and by Dr Djibril Sangaré, situated in Mali's capital: Bamako.
Laparoscopic surgery is characterised by notable advantages that are decisive for populations with a more limited development..
The minimally-invasive characteristics bring about a net reduction in post-operatory infections with diminished use of antibiotics; a diminution of periods of hospitalisation with a reduction in hospital costs; a reduction in post-operatory pain and a consequent reduction in the use of painkilling medicines and a more rapid return of the patient to the working environment.
Moreover by virtue of performing “televised”surgery it is possible to transmit at a distance, thanks to telemedicine, live images of the intervention so as to seek advice from experts who are located in various parts of the world connected to the operating theatre in teleconference.
The VALDOSTANA SURGERY SOCIETY, with the help and support of the AOSTA VALLEY REGION, works alongside these societies in order to bring our team's experience and presence as
”tutor” of our surgeons, anesthetists and medical equipment engineers working beside Mali colleagues in order to help them to progress in a surgical procedure which is state-of- the-art and ever more diffused in the world.
In this perspective of voluntary collaboration our involvement in the project provides two annual trips of a “standard team” composed of two or three surgeons, an anesthetist and a medical equipment engineer in order to provide a complete and lasting training to our African colleagues, so that the Bamako Centre may soon become the laparoscopic school of surgery for central Africa.
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