Risks of Fibroid Surgery Highlighted After MP's Tragic Death

The passing of 40-year-old MP Hellen Nakimuli on April 19 after fibroid surgery at Alexandra Medical Center in Kampala has raised alarms about surgical procedures in Uganda. Though often seen as minor, experts classify uterine fibroid removal as major surgery.

Uterine fibroids, non-cancerous uterine growths, affect 20-28% of Ugandan women, driven by hormones, genetics, African descent, obesity, and diets high in red meat or sugar. Symptoms include heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, infertility, and anemia risks.

Dr. Gozanga Andabati from Bethany Women Hospital outlines pre-surgery prep: full checks on heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and blood. Options range from minimally invasive laparoscopy to open surgery, paired with local or general anaesthesia.

Anaesthesia dangers, mainly from dosing errors, top concerns. Dr. Aggrey Atwine notes general anaesthesia halts breathing, relying on ventilators, with reversal as the riskiest phase. Globally, death odds are 1 in 100,000-200,000, but higher in low-income nations like Uganda due to equipment and staffing shortages.

A 2016 Lancet study found anaesthesia linked to 2.8% of maternal deaths in such countries, rising to 13.8% post-C-section. Other hazards include blood loss (managed via tourniquets), clots, infections, and fibroid recurrence—up to 40% in two years.

Treatment varies by age and fertility goals; surgery removes visible fibroids but misses tiny ones. Dr. Othiniel Musana likens it to weeding a garden. Teamwork during complex cases and regular checkups are urged for better outcomes.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)