Shanghai Tibet Relay Helps Children Realize their Dreams of the Future: A Facial Hospital Completed the First Local Ear Reconstruction Surgery in Shigatse
From an altitude of 4 meters to an altitude of 4000 meters, a "Love Transmission" spanning 5000 kilometers connects Shanghai and Tibet: "I finally have new ears!" Tibetan boy Zhaxi Ouzhu said excitedly and shyly to his grandfather. On September 1, the eye, ear and nose plastic surgery team of the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Department Hospital affiliated to Fudan University successfully completed the small ear deformity ear reconstruction operation for two Tibetan boys, Zhaxiouzhu and Dawa, in Shigatse People's Hospital, Xizang, for five hours. It is reported that this is the first time that the operation was successfully carried out in Shigatse.
In the process of promoting thematic education in the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, closely focusing on the general requirements of "learning ideas, strengthening party spirit, emphasizing practice, and building new achievements", Qian Biao, Secretary of the Party Committee, and Wu Yuejun, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, led the "Joyful Online" volunteer service team of plastic surgery, and went to Shigatse, Xizang to carry out the "Joyful Love Transmission, Shanghai Tibet Family Friendly" public welfare activities.
The reporter learned that this public welfare trip originated from the "group style" assistance of medical talents in Shanghai to Tibet. Last year, Sun Xicai, the chief physician of the Department of Otolaryngology at the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, served as the vice president of the Shigatse People's Hospital as one of the tenth batch of Tibetan aid cadres in Shanghai. During his work, he discovered that there were many children with congenital external and middle ear deformities in the local area, and the children had external ear deformities or even "no ear buds" appearance, which may lead to social disorders or psychological problems. In addition, moderate to severe hearing impairment caused by ear canal occlusion or stenosis may lead to language learning difficulties and communication difficulties. However, the local medical conditions in Shigatse are limited, making it difficult to complete difficult ear reconstruction surgeries. It is inconvenient to travel to and from the mainland for medical treatment, and children miss the best treatment period as a result.
After communicating with the Department of Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery at the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Sun Xicai hopes to create more ears for these children. After learning about the situation, Professor Zhang Tianyu, the subject director, immediately stated that a professional medical team could be organized to undergo surgery in the local area. Organizing past patient information and contacting remote consultations... In the end, 12-year-old Zaxioju and 16-year-old Dawa became the first batch of surgical patients.
Expert explanation: Total auricle reconstruction is one of the most challenging surgeries in the field of plastic surgery. Surgery not only requires careful carving of delicate auricle brackets, but also the production of moderately thick and well supplied skin flaps, which can be considered a clever fusion of medical and artistic skills. It also requires the rich experience and close cooperation of team members. The Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital's Eye, Ear, and Nose Plastic Surgery Department has carried out over 5000 cases of hearing reconstruction and total auricle reconstruction surgery, making it one of the largest ear reconstruction centers in the country. It has also led the development of domestic and international expert consensus on small ear deformities.
Professor Zhang Tianyu led an elite team consisting of Deputy Chief Physician Fu Yaoyao, attending Physician Li Chenlong, attending Physician He Aijuan, and Nurse Zheng Bijun. They brought the necessary special equipment and consumables to overcome high altitude hypoxia and successfully completed two total auricle reconstruction surgeries in high-altitude areas. After the surgery, hospital leaders and expert teams visited two Tibetan boys and provided them with learning materials, encouraging them to recover as soon as possible and study hard. The reporter learned that in the next step, experts will further relay the second phase surgery and subsequent treatment for the children, opening a new chapter in their lives.
During the public welfare trip, experts completed difficult surgeries, conducted free consultations for common diseases, and drove for over three hours to the Central Hospital of Sakya County, providing ear health consultations for more than 10 pastoral families. It is also reported that this year marks the eighth year of Shanghai's innovative "cluster style" medical aid to Tibet. For the past eight years, the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital has selected one medical staff member to provide assistance to the People's Hospital of Shigatse City every year. A group of Tibetan doctors have adhered to the principle of putting people first and life first, making contributions to the development of local hospitals and the medical security of the people.
Party Secretary Qian Biao stated that achieving a breakthrough from 0 to 1 on the snowy plateau is a new starting point and a new journey. Under the guidance of high-quality party building, the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital has transformed the effectiveness of theme education theory into practice of serving the masses, which is an innovation in the extension of charity and the deepening of public welfare.
This event is supported by the Shanghai Yongda Public Welfare Foundation and the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, which jointly launched the "Children's Health" charity project.
