Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has achieved yet another medical milestone after successfully performing its first-ever pneumonectomy—the surgical removal of an entire lung.
The landmark operation conducted last week, marked a major breakthrough for the hospital’s newly established cardiothoracic and vascular surgery unit.
The complex procedure involved removing the damaged left lung of Pamela Achieng, a mother of eight, who had been battling a severe fungal infection of the lungs known as aspergilloma.
The surgery, led by Dr Juma Odoro, was the second major operation undertaken by the specialised unit since its launch a month ago.
The first, done two weeks ago, was an oesophagectomy (removal of a section of the oesophagus) to treat a case of oesophageal cancer.
For Achieng, the procedure marked the end of more than two decades of pain and illness.
“I started ailing in 1999,” she recalled. “I was first diagnosed with TB and took medication twice, but to no avail,” she added.
Over the years, her condition worsened. Persistent coughing, chest pain, and frequent vomiting of blood and pus made life unbearable.
With her husband immobile after an accident and one of her children deaf, Achieng had been the family’s sole breadwinner, farming vegetables to support them.
“I am now grateful that what caused me to constantly vomit blood and smelly pus is behind me,” she said upon discharge, expressing relief and renewed hope.
Dr Odoro explained that the surgery was the only viable solution to prevent further complications.
“Aspergilloma is a localised fungal infection that often develops after pulmonary tuberculosis. It gradually destroys the lungs and, if left untreated, can affect the remaining lung, which could be catastrophic,” he said.
The procedure was executed by a multidisciplinary team comprising Dr Robert Sadia, Dr Vincent Ooko, Dr Brian Sipul, and Dr Jackim Nyamari.
JOOTRH has since announced that its cardiothoracic and vascular surgery clinic is now fully operational and ready to handle complex procedures across the region.
According to the hospital’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Joshua Okise, the new unit will help reduce the need for patients to travel to Nairobi or abroad for advanced chest and vascular surgeries.
Okise described the milestone as a testament to ongoing efforts to transform JOOTRH into a regional centre of excellence in specialised care.
By Chris Mahandara
