Hospital performs ‘first’ keyhole prostate cancer surgery in Sub- Saharan Africa

In pursuit of medical excellence and improved healthcare in Nigeria, The Redddington Hospital Group, Lagos has raised the bar in quality and affordable health care delivery service in Nigeria with the successful conduct of the reportedly first Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy is a minimally invasive surgery procedure used to remove patient’s cancerous prostate. Laparoscopic surgery differs from traditional open surgery by making five small incisions as opposed to large one to perform the surgery. This leads to less blood loss, less abdominal trauma, faster recovery rate and better cosmetic outcomes.

A consultant Urological and Robotic Surgeon and clinical lead surgeon for Urology at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Wales, United Kingdom, Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme, who collaborated with the Reddington Hospital on the project, said prostate cancer is more prevalent among blacks than Caucasians even though figures show higher rates in Europe and the Americas due to high rate of testing.

Ekwueme said prostate cancer is the number one killer among Nigerian men, followed by breasts cancer for women.

Ekwueme said: “The collaboration with Reddington Hospital will reduce medical tourism and capital flight as the hospital has the cutting edge medical technology for Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, which is cheaper than robotic surgery but gives equal result.

“It costs as much as L30,000 for one session of Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in the United Kingdom and majority of Nigerian men have been his patient. This does not include the cost for flight for the patient and accompanying family member and accommodation.

“This is a far cry from an equivalent of L1,000 charged in Nigeria for the prostate surgery.”

He further said that a prostate cancer patient duly operated will not lose his erection and can function very well with his spouse.

Ekwueme said conversation is ongoing with the Reddington Hospital to fully maximise the medical equipment and expertise in the hospital to establish a prostate cancer and diagnostic facility. He urged men above 40 to go for regular test to know their PSA (prostate- specific antigen) level, as early detection will ensure survival of the patient.

Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Reddington Hospital Group, Mr. Emmanuel Matthews, said the facility has consistently invested in cutting edge technology and attracting best medical expertise in Nigeria and in the diaspora to ensure that the hospital maintains global best practice and ensure affordable health care.

Matthews said Reddington Group has over the years pioneered medical breakthroughs in Nigeria like the 66-year-old man, Mr. Oluwatoyin Adebiyi, who in 2020 successfully underwent a complex heart surgery involving a coronary artery bypass graft and mitral valve repair.

The patient, an elderly man (names withheld), who went through the Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy said he is highly elated at the success of the surgery, noting he could walk and eat, immediately after the surgery, and he is feeling very well. “Though I have the resources to go abroad for this surgery, but I came to Reddington Hospital on recommendation and I am very satisfied,” he said.