HOSPITAL NEWS TEAMWORK: Transplant surgeon A/Prof Howard Lau (centre) and his team performed Australia's first robotic kidney transplant on a Quakers Hill woman in June. Cutting Edge Robotic Surgery at Westmead A medical team from Westmead Hospital and Westmead Private Hospital has combined their expertise to deliver Australia’s first robotic kidney autotransplant. 6 The Ramsay Way 2016 | 03 The chances of a person having the same birthday as their mother and father are reportedly one in more than 48 million. Caitlin and Tom Perkins had planned to go out for dinner to celebrate their 30th birthday on August 16th, but it seems their newborn Lucy had other ideas – Caitlin went into labour while in Toowoomba early that morning. “My waters broke and I said, ‘no way’; I was in denial,” said Caitlin. Lucy Marie Perkins was born at 39 weeks in Greenslopes Private Hospital’s maternity ward on Tuesday evening at 6:45pm, weighing a healthy 3.3kg. Incredibly, her parents were coincidentally born on the same day in 1986 – within an hour of each other. Greenslopes Private Hospital Obstetrician, Dr Brad Robinson, delivered the newborn, saying it was one of the most special days of his career. “I’m fortunate enough to have a career where I have special day on special day, but I thought yesterday was amazing,” said Dr Robinson. “It’s not often that you’re happy to be woken by the phone at 2:15am. But I received a call from the midwife telling me Caitlin had broken her waters and I was ecstatic because I had been pushing for it.” Tom joked the Perkins family will now hold an even bigger birthday celebration every year. The surgery, which used an automated robot valued at $4 million, was led by a Westmead Private Hospital Urologist and transplant surgeon A/Prof Howard Lau. Quakers Hill resident Katie Steele, 33, has recovered well from the surgery conducted in June and is grateful for the transplant she needed after suffering complications from bowel surgery last year. “I was a bit nervous being the first in Australia but I had all faith in A/Prof Lau. I knew he’d be the best person to lead the surgery,” Ms Steele said. “I had bowel surgery last year, so compared to that the recovery was a lot better. I was home in just five days. My wound healed really well too.” A/Prof Lau said it was great to combine the resources of the public and private hospitals. “The partnership of the two hospitals has allowed this ground-breaking surgery to take place,” he said. “It’s a major technical advancement that will provide less invasive surgery and reduces the incision size, results in less pain and faster recovery. Precision and speed have also been dramatically improved.” Hollywood Private Hospital Offers New Program Specific to Needs of Adults with Bulimia Hollywood Private Hospital’s mental health facility, The Hollywood Clinic, has introduced an eight week group treatment program for adults experiencing eating issues associated with bulimia nervosa (bulimia). The Clinic’s Bulimia Program is one of the only multi therapy treatment programs in Western Australia specific to bulimia. The program was established to offer much needed support for individuals with the condition. Dietician at The Hollywood Clinic, Kate Fleming, said: “There is an obvious gap in the market for a program tailored specifically to the needs of bulimia sufferers.” “We provide participants with the support and tools they require to address and overcome the condition. We also help them to develop coping skills to maintain a healthy relationship with food in the future.” “Our first Bulimia Program is currently underway and the feedback from patients and their families has been very positive. For many individuals, this is the first time they have been able to access care specific to their illness and needs.” To ensure comprehensive support is delivered, the program is co-facilitated by a psychologist and a dietitian. Program participants attend a three hour group session once a week and are provided with cognitive behaviour therapy, an evidence based treatment that is highly effective for addressing the condition. The Clinic also offers a supported weekly meal experience and mindfulness based techniques to manage post meal distress. Australia’s First Viscocanaloplasty in Tamworth Tamara Ophthalmologist, Dr Deric De Wit, performed their first viscocanaloplasty procedure in July. Apart from being the first one performed at Tamara, it is also the first time a surgeon has done this procedure in Australia. Viscocanaloplasty is an alternative to a trabeculectomy for patients with glaucoma, with the aim of restoring the natural drainage of fluid from the eye. A superficial hinged flap of sclera is made and a deeper flap excised to expose the Schlemm’s canal. A microcatheter with an illuminated tip is introduced into the canal and viscoelastic fluid is injected to dilate it. After catheterisation of the entire length of the canal, a suture is tied to the tip of the catheter, which is then withdrawn, pulling the suture into the canal. The suture is then cut and tied in a loop, and on tightening, distends the trabecular meshwork and widens the canal. The superficial flap is then sutured and the procedure is complete. Lucy’s Luck is One in 48 Million A Queensland woman who shares the same birthday as her husband has defied the odds to give birth to their daughter at Greenslopes Private Hospital on the very same calendar day – 30 years apart. Dietician Kate Fleming Caitlin Perkins, Tom Perkins, Dr Brad Robinson and Lucy Perkins (baby).
The Ramsay Way - 03 - 2016
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