University Medical City hits milestone in oncological surgeries

MUSCAT: A joint team from the University Medical City—represented by the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) and the Department of Surgical Oncology at the Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Centre — has successfully performed the first operation of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman to connect lymphatic vessels to veins following the excision of lymph nodes during tumour removal.
The operation is considered an advanced and precise supermicrosurgical procedure, as it relies on connecting ultra-fine lymphatic vessels with a diameter of less than 0.5 millimetres to veins. This aims to improve the drainage of lymphatic fluid following lymph node dissection, thereby contributing to reducing lymphedema and its associated symptoms, enhancing the patients' quality of life, and limiting long-term complications.
The medical team emphasised that the successful performance of this advanced operation within the Sultanate of Oman reflects the efficiency of medical capabilities and embodies the level of integration and cooperation among specialised medical teams at the University Medical City.
It also represents a launching pad toward developing an integrated national programme in this field, thereby enhancing access to highly precise specialised healthcare services within the Sultanate of Oman. — ONA