The Medical Faculty of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura is at the pinnacle of its success. On the 15^th of January 2018 the South Asian Minimal Access Gynaecology Endometriosis Centre (SAMAGE) was established within the Colombo South Teaching Hospital (Kalubowila Teaching Hospital) under the professorial unit in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Sri Jayewardenepura. The media reported this establishment as a move that would put the university and the country on the world-map.

6-10% of women at their reproductive age are affected by Endometriosis. This is common to women in most parts of the world. The condition refers to the development of uterine-lining tissue outside the uterus, which can affect in abdominal pain, menstruation issues and even infertility. The SAMAGE centre is the first of its kind not only in Sri Lanka but in all of South Asia. The Centre has been approved by the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE) as an international provisional endometriosis centre from this year onwards. It will proceed to receive full accreditation as an internationalendometriosis centre in 2019, after through scrutiny and review from the BSGE.

The BSGE centre was founded in 1989; it has membership of over 1000 consultants, trainees, specialist nurses, practitioners etc. Being a part of the BSGE provides the following benefits:

»        To optimize patient care through dedicated multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach
»        To audit the patient QOL and surgical outcomes to improve confidence
»        To standardize training of the gynecologist to perform advanced gynecological endoscopic procedures
»        For International recognition
»        Have access to database to answer research questions

The SAMAGE centre will be a referral centre for all complex gynaecological problems with special interest in endometriosis. The centre will promote training in minimal access surgery in Sri Lanka while improving the standards of minimal surgery in Sri Lanka. The centre will promote international for exchange of information for research and increase public awareness.

Dr. Dhammika Silva, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist will be heading the Gynaecological team at Kalubowila. Dr. Silva and his team have been conducting minimal access surgeries for over 10 years and not just for endometriosis for other Ureter work including re-implantation and end-to-end anastomosis, rectal shaving, bladder procedures, fistula, pelvic abscesses and all other operable gynaecological cancers including ovarian cancer. With this international accreditation patients will be able to receive more streamlined treatment.

The Centre will be offering the following treatments:

• Laparoscopic Ovarian cystectomy
• Laparoscopic Subtotal hysterectomy
• Laparoscopic Total hysterectomy
• Laparoscopic Ureterolysis
• Laparoscopic Ureteric re-implantation with Psoas hitch
• Laparoscopic Ureteric re-implantation with Boari flap
• Laparoscopic Ureteric Reanastomosis
• Laparoscopic Resection of bladder Endometriosis
• Laparoscopic Resection of recto vagina septum Endometriosis
• Laparoscopic Discoid resection of bowel
• Laparoscopic Segmental resection of bowel
• Laparoscopic Rectal shaving
• Laparoscopic Pre sacral neurectomy
• Laparoscopic Resection of deep infiltrating endometriosis
• Laparoscopic Pelvic lymphadenectomy
• Laparoscopic Para aortic lymphadenectomy
• Laparoscopic Vesico vaginal fistula repair
• Uterine reconstructive surgery
• Laparoscopic Trans cervical resection of fibroid
• Laparoscopic Trans cervical resection of polyp
• Laparoscopic Trans cervical resections of endometrium
• Laparoscopic Trans cervical resection of septa
• Laparoscopic Management of pelvic abscesses
• Laparoscopic Ovarian malignancies
• Laparoscopic Radical hysterectomy
• Laparoscopic Pelvic floor repairs
• Laparoscopic Sacro-colpopexy
• Laparoscopic Sacro-uteropexy
• Laparoscopic Burch colposuspension
• Laparoscopic salphingo-oophorectomy
• Laparoscopic Salphingostomy
• Laparoscopic Fallopian tubal surgeries

Dr. Silva speaking to some of the local media, he stated that there was a time when “frozen Pelvis”, a condition caused by severe endometriosis was inoperable. It was considered so because it involved even the ureters, bowel and nerves around it. The areas affected needed to be treated separately and should be done through a multidisciplinary approach. Thereby the centre will be led not only by a gynaecologist, but also team geared to take a multidisciplinary approach. The team will consist of a Colorectal Surgeon, Consultant Urologist, and Consultant Anaesthetist with special interest in pain management and a Specialist Nurse.

Minimal Access Gynaecology offers the patients, less pain, less analgesics requirements, rapid healing, less infection risk and the comfort of being discharged early. This centre will prove beneficial for women not just in Sri Lanka but all of South Asia.

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Read Full Article in Sunday Times : http://www.sundaytimes.lk/180114/news/kalubowila-hospital-jpura-university-on-world-map-277289.html