18-year-old subjected to complex ear reconstructive surgery in Holguín

An 18-year-old teenager from the municipality of Cacocum became this Thursday the first patient from Holguín to undergo reconstructive surgery for microtia at the Octavio de la Concepción de la Pedraja Pediatric Hospital.

The complex intervention was carried out by a team of specialists, led by Dr. Jorge E. Márquez Camayd, head of the Plastic Surgery and Burn Care service at the center, according to the local official newspaper Ahora.

The intervention consisted of the reconstruction of the external ear using costal cartilage from the patient himself.

"The surgery was successful and the patient's recovery has been satisfactory," reported the hospital authorities via social media.

Microtia is a congenital malformation of the outer ear that can range from a mild deformity to a complete absence of the ear.

According to Márquez Camayd, this condition has a strong emotional impact on patients, especially in childhood and adolescence.

Microtia affects between one in 8,000 to 10,000 births, and unilateral presentation is more common, with a higher frequency in the right ear.

The intervention marks a milestone in healthcare in the province by avoiding the transfer of patients to Havana, where such specialized procedures were previously concentrated.

The introduction of this technique in Holguín represents a step forward in the decentralization of high-complexity medical services in Cuba.

Experts added that this experience will allow to provide treatment systematically and free of charge to other children and adolescents with this condition, without the need to leave the province.

In the midst of the collapse of the healthcare system, characterized by a shortage of supplies, outdated technology, and an overwhelmed staff, every now and then medical feats occur that stand out not only for their clinical value, but also for being carried out under extremely adverse conditions.

At the end of June, an 80-year-old man underwent a balloon aortic valvuloplasty, a minimally invasive procedure that had never before been performed by the medical team at the Cardiocentro in Santiago de Cuba.

This method was chosen due to the high risk associated with open-heart surgery, which was rejected by the family of the 80-year-old patient.

The patient presented with a mitroaortic valvular disease combined with a sclerodegenerative ischemic heart disease, along with chronic heart failure exacerbated by severe aortic stenosis and mild to moderate mitral insufficiency. These conditions made conventional surgery extremely risky.

Frequently asked questions about reconstructive surgery in Holguín and the Cuban healthcare system