Pioneering Thoracic Surgeon Champions Minimally Invasive Techniques and Advocates for Healthcare Improvements in Mallorca
Table of Contents
- Pioneering Thoracic Surgeon Champions Minimally Invasive Techniques and Advocates for Healthcare Improvements in Mallorca
A world-renowned thoracic surgeon has chosen to practice in Mallorca, Spain, citing a better quality of life and a desire to be closer to family as key factors in her decision. Her arrival brings with her expertise in cutting-edge surgical techniques, including a specialized approach to lung and chest wall procedures.
From International Practice to Island Life
The surgeon’s journey to Mallorca wasn’t initially by choice. “The honest answer is that life is better in Spain,” she stated. Following her specialization,high unemployment rates prompted her to seek opportunities abroad,initially with the intention of returning. However, the challenges of living far from home and family ultimately led her to prioritize a more balanced lifestyle. “I wanted to start a family, be close to my parents, and have time for myself,” she explained.
Understanding Thoracic Surgery: A Delicate Field
Thoracic surgery is a complex surgical specialty focused on diagnosing and treating diseases of the chest, including the lungs, chest wall, ribs, and mediastinum – the space between the lungs. As the surgeon emphasized, this field demands precision due to the delicate nature of the organs involved and the inherent risks associated with operating in this region of the body.
Revolutionizing Procedures with Uniportal Surgery
The surgeon is a leading expert in uniportal thoracic surgery, a minimally invasive technique that represents a meaningful advancement in the field. Unlike traditional approaches that require large incisions and rib spreading, uniportal surgery utilizes a single, small port to access the surgical site. This approach dramatically reduces trauma to the patient.
The Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery
The advantages of uniportal surgery over traditional open surgery are significant.Patients experience less pain, fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and a much faster recovery. By minimizing pain, the risk of post-operative complications like pneumonia – which can necessitate intensive care – is also reduced. In contrast, open surgery involves a large chest wound and the use of a metallic spreader to create space between the ribs, a more aggressive procedure.
The Challenge of Lung Cancer Detection
The surgeon also highlighted the challenges in treating lung cancer. The surgeon attributes this to the fact that it is often diagnosed at a late stage. “Many times, it is indeed only detected incidentally, for example, when a patient has an accident and a spot is found during testing,” she explained. Typically,patients are unaware of their cancer untill symptoms appear,at which point the tumor is often advanced.
The Need for Proactive Screening
A population-wide screening program using low-dose CT scans would be ideal, as evidence suggests it can reduce mortality rates. However, such a program has not yet been implemented in Spain. currently, private healthcare providers offer these screenings to individuals at higher risk, such as long-term smokers.
The surgeon emphasized that while minimally invasive surgery doesn’t alter the overall prognosis for cancer, it significantly improves the post-operative experience and reduces complications.
The surgeon, who also works within the public healthcare system, voiced her strong support for recent protests by doctors against a proposed healthcare framework. “It is unreasonable to package everything together and force acceptance or rejection of an entire statute without nuance,” she stated, advocating for a separate framework specifically for physicians.
She acknowledged that the private healthcare sector can help alleviate pressure on the public system by providing patients with more options and reducing wait times for treatment.
Addressing Violence Against Healthcare Workers
The surgeon expressed concern over the increasing number of attacks on healthcare professionals, emphasizing the need for improved education and respect. “The problem is basic,” she said. “If we don’t reinforce education and respect from the ground up, no protocol will fix it. I believe the power of education is underestimated, and this applies to many professions, not just ours.”
[Image of Dr.Elisabet Arango and her team in a thoracic intervention at the Juaneda clinic.]
