By Gift Briton
The Aga Khan University Hospital has become the first health facility in Africa to perform the vNotes procedure.
Also known as vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, vNotes is an advanced minimally invasive gynecological technique that allows for the treatment of various gynecological conditions through the vaginal opening without the need for external cuts on the abdomen.
The technology allows gynecologists to utilize specialized instruments inserted through the vagina and guided by a camera into the pelvic cavity, providing access to the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries without the need for abdominal skin incisions.
“While both vNotes and minimally invasive surgery aim to minimize scarring and speed up recovery, vNotes achieves this by avoiding any external cuts, operating solely through the vagina, whereas minimally invasive surgery involves small abdominal incisions,” explained Dr. Bob Achila, the Lead Surgeon and Consultant Urogynaecologist at Aga Khan University Hospital.
According to Dr. Achila, compared to laparoscopic surgery, vNotes offers multiple advantages, including no visible scars, a shorter stay in hospital, reduced postoperative pain, quicker recovery enabling a faster return to normal activities, decreased reliance on pain medication, and cost-effectiveness due to reduced theatre operating time and shorter hospital stays.
It is effective in treating conditions such as hysterectomy, surgeries of the fallopian tubes and ovaries (including ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancies, and permanent sterilization), as well as addressing pelvic organ prolapse.
In Africa, including East Africa, vNotes is a relatively new technique slowly gaining popularity as medical professionals gain expertise.
However, it has been used for about ten years in other parts of the world. To perform vNotes, a doctor must be specially trained in minimally invasive surgery and the specific techniques required for vNotes.
“This major medical breakthrough will improve care for women locally and beyond. Our desire to give patients the best care drives our quest to continuously improve our training, update our skills, and remain innovative to keep up-to-date with the ever-changing healthcare landscape, benchmarked with the best healthcare practices across the globe,” said Professor Elkanah Omenge, Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
