Pinoy eye doc performs live surgery in US
A Filipino eye surgeon holds the distinction of being the first and only Filipino doctor to ever perform live cataract surgery at the convention of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS).
Eye surgeon Dr. Cesar Ramon Espiritu was recently invited by ASCRS for a live demonstration of phacoemulsification cataract surgery during its April 4-9 convention at the McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. The live surgery took place on April 5.
Espiritu was presented with a difficult cataract surgical case involving a 61-year-old female patient afflicted with a harder-than-usual cataract.
Demonstrating his skills and experience in dealing with such kinds of cataract more common in the Philippines, Espiritu proceeded with the surgery, describing every step he was doing — from the small incision at the beginning of the surgery up to the implantation of the intraocular lens. He also answered questions from the moderator and the audience.
The live surgery was broadcast live via satellite from the Southwest Surgical Center in Mokena, Illinois to McCormick Place for the benefit of the ASCRS audience composed of prominent eye surgeons from all over the United States and other countries.
During the surgery, Espiritu explained that the patient’s cataract was so hard and was at an advanced stage that trying to view the retina through it proved to be very difficult.
“I hope to show you what we usually do back home for hard cataracts, and that’s the crater-and-chop or crater-and-crack maneuver,” he said.
The 15-minute surgery was followed by a panel discussion where Espiritu, shown still in his operating gown, was complimented by his fellow surgeons for a job well done.
“That’s a beautiful surgery. Wonderful control, Dr. Espiritu,” said moderator Dr. Donald Serafano of Los Alamitos, California.
“I just have to say that you did a wonderful job at a tough cataract. The two take-home points for the audience — that the debulking centrally and the cutting into multiple small fragments really can make a tough case much more manageable. You did a great job,” said Dr. Jonathan Rubenstein of Chicago, Illinois.
Espiritu graduated from the UP College of Medicine and is a full-time practitioner at the American Eye Center in Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City.
To view the re-broadcast of his live surgery, go to www.eyecenter.com.ph or call (02) 636-0762 and 0917-LASER ME.
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