Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Dec 12: In a significant development, surgeons from various parts of the country are gathering in Srinagar to undergo specialised training in laparoscopic hernia procedures.
Prof Dr Iqbal Saleem Mir, Head of the Department of Surgery at GMC & SMHS Hospital, informed that GMC Srinagar, particularly SMHS Hospital Srinagar, has become a focal point for learning and exchanging expertise in this advanced surgical technique, highlighting the region’s growing influence in the field.
Dr Iqbal said that for the first time, seven surgeons from different parts of India are visiting GMC Srinagar to undergo a two-day training session on advanced laparoscopic hernia surgery, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. “It is a commendable achievement for Kashmir medical sciences to attract professionals from outside for training,” he said.
Renowned for their proficiency in the field, the faculty of the Surgery Department will share valuable skills and knowledge with the visiting surgeons, he said.
Dr Iqbal said the effort is aimed at enhancing the medical community’s proficiency in laparoscopic techniques, fostering a cross-cultural exchange of medical expertise. “The local doctors would typically travel outside the region for specialised training, and it is for the first time that doctors are visiting Kashmir to learn,” he said.
Explaining the laparoscopic hernia repair technique, Dr Mir said it is a minimally invasive surgical procedure utilizing three to four small incisions and a laparoscope—a thin tube with a camera on the end—to guide the surgeon. In some cases, mesh may be used to support protruding tissues. The procedure typically takes one hour or less to complete.
Hernias, a gap in the abdominal wall resulting from muscle weakness, allow abdominal tissues or intestines to protrude. “If left untreated, hernias can lead to serious health complications, including infection and/or loss of blood to the intestine, he said.
“Laparoscopic hernia repair is employed to treat hernias across age groups and genders, from children to the elderly,” Dr Iqbal said.
