Mandeville Regional Hospital Pioneers Jamaica's First Scar-Free Vaginal Minimally Invasive Surgery

Mandeville Regional Hospital (MRH) in Manchester has recorded a national first by completing scar-free minimally invasive vaginal surgery through a method called Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (vNOTES).

The approach lets surgeons work via the vaginal canal with purpose-built instruments and a camera, avoiding cuts to the abdomen and the visible scars that usually follow.

The achievement came during a three-day surgical mission from June 9 to 11, when MRH clinicians worked alongside specialist surgeons from the Jamaica Awareness Association of California (JAAC). The yearly outreach is designed to build Jamaica's ability to deliver advanced laparoscopic and endoscopic care.

Dr Ashok Kotagiri, Senior Resident in the Department of Surgery at MRH, said the teams carried out roughly 21 advanced procedures across the mission.

"These included advanced laparoscopic hernia repairs using techniques such as Transabdominal Preperitoneal, Totally Extraperitoneal and Intraperitoneal Onlay Mesh, laparoscopic gallbladder removal, and advanced laparoscopic gynaecological procedures, including hysterectomies, bilateral salpingectomies and ovarian cyst surgeries using the vNOTES approach," he explained.

Kotagiri pointed out that the operations involved demand greater skill than standard surgical work.

"The type of surgeries we are doing, they are not the simple everyday surgeries. These are advanced surgeries. I am glad that our gynaecologists at MRH are the first team to perform this advanced surgery in Jamaica. Even in the United States and Europe, not all gynaecologists have the skills to perform this advanced laparoscopic gynaecological surgery," he said.

Dr Sharon Shiraga, Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Southern California and a JAAC volunteer physician, said the mission focuses heavily on upskilling local teams.

"We're here at Mandeville Hospital helping the residents and doctors to enhance their laparoscopy surgery by doing hernia surgeries, gallbladder surgeries and any other advanced surgeries of laparoscopy they would like to have," she said.

Dr Toshikah Wheatley-Williams, Senior Resident in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at MRH, called the arrival of vNOTES a "game changer" for patients, adding that the minimally invasive route helps women resume everyday life sooner.

The JAAC delegation also handed over laparoscopic and other surgical supplies worth about J$5 million to support patient treatment and widen access to advanced procedures.