"Chinese doctors gave my kidney a second life," said a patient from Dominica, who recovered swiftly after undergoing kidney surgery conducted by the 7th Chinese medical team organized by Guangzhou Medical University.
According to the Guangdong Provincial Health Commission, since the 7th Chinese medical team arrived in Dominica in January 2025, the team has successfully performed numerous groundbreaking surgeries. These include urological and ophthalmological procedures, advancements in anesthesia techniques, and cardiac emergency care, addressing significant gaps in local medical technology.
On June 10, Dr. Du Yipeng, a cardiologist from the medical team, successfully oversaw the completion of a temporary cardiac pacemaker implantation procedure. He entrusted the surgical opportunity to a young Dominican doctor and shadowed him throughout the process, providing guidance on operational procedures and techniques.
Dr. Du emphasized that the philosophy consistently upheld by the Chinese medical team is that "truly valuable assistance is not about substitution but empowerment." By "giving a man a fish," and more importantly, "teaching him how to fish," the team aims to enhance local medical service capabilities.
Diabetic-induced refractory neovascular glaucoma had previously forced Dominican patients to seek medical treatment in Cuba. On May 27, Dr. Song Li, an ophthalmologist from the medical team, addressed this issue with an innovative approach.
She administered anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) medication to a patient with intraocular pressure exceeding 50 mmHg one week before surgery to reduce risks. Through resourceful efforts to create a scleral flap, she successfully performed a complex trabeculectomy, saving the patient's left eye from impending blindness.
In addition, Dr. Deng Nan, the leader of the medical team and a urological surgeon, successfully performed laparoscopic ureteroplasty combined with ureterovesical reimplantation at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital on May 13.
This groundbreaking surgery has bridged the medical technology gap in this field in Dominica and the Caribbean region, marking the continuous progress of China's foreign medical aid work from basic diagnosis and treatment to high-difficulty minimally invasive surgeries.
Furthermore, Dr. Zhang Xupu, an anesthesiologist from the medical team, administered ultrasound-guided nerve block anesthesia to a 96-year-old patient, allowing the elderly individual to remain fully conscious with stable vital signs throughout the procedure. This approach eliminated the need for sedative intubation and avoided the high risks associated with general anesthesia and intraspinal anesthesia.
Reporter | Chen Jinxia
Photo | Guangzhou Medical University
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
