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Airmen perform operations with Kyrgyz surgeons

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  Airmen at the Transit Center at Manas gave their host nation a taste of the "precision of the American surgeons" during surgical operations between the Airmen and Kyrgyz doctors in a local hospital here Dec. 11.

The team of medical Airmen led by Col. Jerrold Flyer, 376the Expeditionary Medical Group commander, assisted with two separate operations, primarily a clavicular fracture repair and ligation of a varicocoele, for patients at the Kyrgyz military medical hospital.

The joint operation was part of a partnership between medical Airmen at the Transit Center and their counterparts at the Kung-kunbei Hospital.

"It was definitely an honor and a privilege to work with the Kyrgyz team," Colonel Flyer said. "While operating, I felt a real fellowship with the other surgeon. We were not a Kyrgyz surgeon and an American surgeon operating on a Kyrgyz soldier; we were two surgeons operating on a patient who needed our help. It was a tremendous feeling."

When the Airmen arrived at the hospital, they were welcomed by a host of Kyrgyz medical practitioners and the nation's media representatives who came to witness the outcome and to broadcast the results of the operations.

During the first surgery, involving the complete fracture of a patient's collar bones, Lt. Col. Joseph Browne, 376th EMDG, and Kyrgyz Drs. Murat Ernazarov and Aaly Turdumambetov joined hands to perform the operation, which lasted for more than an hour.

"The procedure was not much different than being in the United States', Colonel Browne said. "Their (Kyrgyz) techniques were the same and they are excellent surgeons. The physicians were just as good as what we have in the United States for what they did. It (the surgery) took them as long as it would have taken in the U.S. to do the same thing."

After the first operation, Colonel Flyer geared up for a second one scheduled for the same day.

Immediately after the surgeries, the two Airmen described the outcome of their operations as a success.

"Both cases were completed in a highly professional and skillful manner," said Colonel Flyer, who was observing during the first operation. "The clavicular repair looked especially good when it was completed. Of course we will not know for a while how both cases turn out, but they were both successful cases from my point of view."

"It was awesome to actually work alongside the American surgeons," said Doctor Turdumambetov. "This is actually my first time doing an operation with an American. I really learned a lot here today. The precision and expertise of the Americans are spectacular."

Colonel Flyer further points out some of the reasons for their outstanding results during the operations. While highlighting his points, he described the Kyrgyz surgeons as very well trained, highly skilled and very experienced as well.

"They are also highly innovative as they take on challenging and complex cases with very limited equipment and supplies," the colonel said. "They often have to devise solutions to surgical problems that we do not even think of because we don't have the same constraints that they do. I know that I could learn a lot from them, and I hope we have the opportunity to do more cases together both at the Transit Center as well as at the Besh-Kungei Hospital."

During a visit to the wards and operating rooms, the team of Airmen saw some of the cases and patients that were about to undergo surgeries and those who already had an operation done.

"At least from the cases that I saw, they do get good results, ," Colonel Flyer added. "I think with more modern equipment and supplies it would make it easier for them to do the things they do, but the bottom line is always the skill of the surgeon and in that area I was quite impressed."

The feelings were mutual between the two team of surgeons.

"In a surgery room, there is sometimes no need for (verbal) communications," said Doctor Turdumambetove. "Even though we speak different (national) languages and sometimes use different techniques, the job is almost the same because our goals are the same."

In addition, the medical group commander said that he learn from his counterparts during the operation that no matter where in the world one is, doctors in general and surgeons in particular are focused on doing the best for their patients.

"We may have to go about it in different ways and with different techniques but our goal is always to make our patients better," Colonel Flyer added.

At a discussion table, where Airmen and Kyrgyz doctors and pharmacies were sharing more knowledge and discussing various ways to move their partnership and friendship forward, some of the Airmen shared what they learned from the visit.

"We can learn from each other as far as different techniques and approaches to common problems," the colonel said. "The friendship and trust that we are building will hopefully in the future allow us to work even closer together. For us, we hope to learn new techniques and create trust and friendships that will continue to build on this very important relationship between Kyrgyzstan and the United States."

NOTE: This is the final part of the two-series article on US-Kyrgyz medical partnership.