172. Final Baguio Post

Most fibroids grow within the wall of the uterus.
This "pedunculated" fibroid grew from the top,
 attached to the uterus by a narrow stalk

The dense, gnarled nature of a fibroid
appreciated when it is bisected.

That's the cervix underneath the bulky uterus fundus,
which had to be removed first to gain access to the cervix

Inside, it looks like multiple, not a single, fibroids

Again, multiple fibroids, this time apparent from the outside

That's just $13.50 per day for hospital room, but a hospital and doctor costs for a hysterectomy would add up to P60,000, or over $1300, we were told.  That's over $30,000 of gynecologic surgical care.
Assume an equal amount or more for the general surgeons and $2500 expenses for each of the 25 volunteers.
The result: an investment of $60,000+ for $60,000+ medical care plus some teaching along the way.
All in all, a pretty good return on that investment

171. Baguio Stats

9 -Day of Surgery:

large fibroid uterus

Twenty-four major gynecologic procedures.

• 10 abdominal hyst (8 fibroids, one unanticipated cancer, one ovarian cyst)

• 11 vaginal hyst (8 prolapse, two fibroid, and one hyperplasia with atypia (“pre- cancer”)
• and three exploratory surgeries, one for the removal of just the fibroid and one for a suspected cyst.

And two minor procedures, both tubal ligations (one open, one laparoscopic)

Multiple fibroids totally distort anatomy

It would take me about a year at home to do as many hysterectomies; more than double what I’ve done on any other mission.

The two general surgeons had a few more cases (one only could stay a week), mostly gall bladder, hernias with a few thyroidectomies and one breast lumpectomy.