In a monumental medical breakthrough, Aga Khan University Hospital has successfully conducted the first Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (vNOTES) in the region, a revolutionary technique in the treatment of various gynaecological conditions.

This minimally invasive approach allows access to the pelvic cavity through the vaginal opening, eliminating the need for external cuts on the abdomen.

The vNOTES procedure, now recognised as the next frontier in gynaecological surgery, involves the use of specialised instruments inserted through the vagina, guided by a camera, allowing surgeons to access the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries without abdominal incisions.

“While both vNOTES and minimally invasive surgery aim to minimize scarring and speed up recovery, vNOTES achieves this by avoiding any external cuts, operating solely through the vagina, whereas minimally invasive surgery involves small abdominal incisions,” Dr Bob Achila, Lead Surgeon and Consultant Urogynaecologist at Aga Khan University Hospital, highlighted the unique benefits of this approach.

This innovative surgical method offers patients a range of advantages over traditional laparoscopic surgery, including no visible scarring, a shorter hospital stay, and significantly reduced post-operative pain.

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Dr Achila elaborated on the benefits: “vNOTES offers several benefits including no visible scars, a shorter hospital stay, reduced post-operative pain, quicker recovery allowing return to normal activities, less reliance on pain medication and ultimately cost effective given that there’s less theatre operating time and shorter hospital stay.”

The vNOTES technique is already being utilised to treat a variety of conditions such as hysterectomy, fallopian tube and ovarian surgeries, including the removal of ovarian cysts, treatment of ectopic pregnancies, and permanent sterilisation.

It is also being applied to treat pelvic organ prolapse, with its applications expected to broaden as more gynaecologists become proficient in the method.

Although relatively new in Africa, particularly in East Africa, vNOTES has been utilised globally for about a decade.

Its growing popularity in the region reflects the increasing expertise among local medical professionals, though specific training is required to master both minimally invasive surgery and vNOTES techniques.

Professor Elkanah Omenge, Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, celebrated the success of this pioneering surgery.

“This is a major medical breakthrough that will improve care for women locally and beyond. Our desire to give patients the best care drives our quest to continuously improve our training, update our skills and remain innovative to keep abreast with the ever-changing healthcare landscape, benchmarked with the best healthcare practices across the globe,” he remarked.

Aga Khan University Hospital, renowned for its leadership in medical research and cutting-edge technology, continues to push the boundaries of healthcare in the region.

The successful introduction of vNOTES surgery is yet another milestone in the hospital’s long-standing tradition of pioneering medical advances.