Tag Archives: urology

This week in Mexicali Surgery

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No – I haven’t changed the name of the blog, just reflecting the nature of my current assignment.  Spending some time in Interventional Cardiology this week as part of a story I am writing about chest pain emergencies for Mexico on my mind.com.  Today, I checked out the cath lab at Hispano Americano Hospital.  It’s a bit crowded, but all the equipment is brand-spanking new, and practically sparkling.  (Don’t worry – I have photos to prove it!)

Nurses in the cath lab at Hospital Hispano Americano

Dr. Fernando Monge was kind of enough to give me a guided tour.  While we were there he (assisted by Dr. Raul Aguilera) placed a stent in a patient with recurrent angina.  A doctor from the ER also stopped by to have him review a couple EKGs..  I’ll post a link when the full story is done.

Also stopped in to talk to Dr. Jose Antonio Olivares Felix, MD, a general surgeon who reports to me that he is doing single port laparoscopy – so of course, that got me interested.  Hoping to set a date to go to the operating room.

I’ll be spending all of tomorrow in the company of Dr. Marnes Molina, MD to learn more about some of the other stuff he’s doing in urology (and hopefully grab a picture of that green laser!)

In the operating room with Dr. Marnes Molina, MD

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with Dr. Marnes Molina, Urologist

Spent the day with Dr. Marnes Molina, MD, a urologist here in Mexicali.  I initially met Dr. Molina by happenstance – in the hallways of Mexicali General Hospital.  After a brief chat we arranged for a longer interview and operating room visit.

Today, I spent the entire day in Dr. Molina’s company – first in surgery at one of the private hospitals, then his office on Madero Avenue, and then at another facility for another surgery.

Talking to the fluent English-speaking physician was a delight and a treat.  Since I don’t usually spent much time in urology – I do admit that I spent yesterday as a cram session reading about J stents and the like  so I would even know what questions to ask.  (Urology has come a long way since your basic lithotripsy.)

Dr. Molina performs a wide range of procedures – from treatment of kidney stones and ureteral obstructions, BPH, prostate cancer as well as continence restoring surgeries such as vaginal tape, and treatment of varicocele that may be contributing to infertility issues in men.

Today, for both cases, patients received conscious sedation – and both patients looked comfortable during the procedures.  (This also means that the associated risks of general anesthesia are avoided.) Everything went well – and quickly!

Dr. Marnes Molina (left) and his nurse in the operating room

Dr. Marnes Molina also tells me that he is the only urologist in the Mexicali area utilizing the green laser for treatment of benign prostate hypertrophy as an option instead of traditional surgery.

Dr. Marnes Molina Torres

Urology/ endourology

www.urologiamexicali.com

Madero 1059

Col. Nueva

Mexicali, BC

Email: marnesm@urologiamexicali.com

Tele (686) 553 6989

Expect to hear more about Dr. Molina soon..

References on Lasers in Urology

Lasers in urology (Grasso & Schwartz), 2008 Medscape.com article

Another Medscape article courtesy of Reuters Health on Green Light laser technology entitled, “Latest green-light laser effective for large prostate volumes.”

Thoracic surgery, Operation Smile, and a new perspective in Chia

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Spent the morning in Chia with Dr. Osorio (thoracic surgeon) at Clinica Universitario Teleton.  Cases went smoothly, beautifully and quickly. Then we rounded on patients in another facility..


While I was in Chia, I had an opportunity to meet several members of Fundacion Operacion Sonrisa (Operation Smile to all my stateside readers).  I spoke with Pilar, one of the nurses on the surgical team, and Dr. Celso Bohorquez Escobar, plastic surgeon, who said they have sixteen cases planned for this weekend.  They come to Chia several times a year, and operate in multiple locations throughout Colombia.  For any of you unfamiliar with this organization (consisting of volunteer doctors, nurses and other medical staff), Operation Smile performs cosmetic repairs of facial deformities such as cleft palate for indigent patients and their families.

I also had a chance to (briefly) meet two urologists from Medellin that traveled to Chia to perform a urinary continence restoring surgery. I particularly like to see this sort of thing, (bringing care to patients in rural areas, or those who would otherwise go without) – because while neither of these procedures is arguably lifesaving, both procedures are dramatically life-altering, and contribute greatly to the enhancement of quality of life.

But, back to Dr. Osorio – I especially enjoyed talking to Dr. Osorio because as the Dean of Medicine for a medical school, he has different perspectives on the future of medicine, and Colombian medicine in general. He also shows a lot of insight, and open-mindedness to outside perspectives and opinions. Part of this comes from dealing with students and residents everyday, another part may be from his partnership with another physician in Chile (Dr. Claudia Suarez) and some of it undoubtably comes from experience.

I found it interesting and illuminating that Dr. Osorio is probably the first person to ask about my observations, and perspectives on surgery and medicine in Bogota, after being here three months, meeting numerous surgeons, and visiting multiple facilities.. And he seemed to actually be interested in the answers.. I think that any doctor who takes the time to consider the insights of foreign nurse, and asks for criticisms, is someone, who takes the time to look at the world differently, (and medicine needs that.)