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Surgery

The Department of Surgery was first headed by Professor J.W. Hiadzi from 1984 to 1994.

The Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, is also referred to as the Directorate of Surgery of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, comprises the following subspecialties:

  • General Surgery
  • Paediatric Surgery
  • Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Urology
  • Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
  • Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • Neurosurgery

 

Rationale/Aims/Objectives

The Department of Surgery has over the years aimed to:

  1. Fulfil the general vision of the School of Medicine and Dentistry through the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research and high quality service to the community.  The training of doctors with high ethical, moral and social standards remains our goal.

 

  1. Provide basic clinical training in all the subspecialties currently available in the department and expand training into other subspecialties such as Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Endocrine Surgery and Laparoscopic Surgery.

 

  1. Provide postgraduate training in surgery through the fellowship of the West African College of Surgeons and the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons as well as provide advanced training to doctors throughout Ghana through short term courses i.e. Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Courses.

 

  1. Promote the conduct of research for improving the quality of teaching and service.

 

Programme/Courses/Subject Strands

            (i)        Undergraduate

            (ii)       Postgraduate Residency Training for 

Ghana and West Africa Colleges of Surgery

 

Structure of Department

Prof. C. K. Gyasi-Sarpong - Head of Department

Dr. Abiboye C. Yifieyeh - Examination Officer

Dr. Kwaku Addai Arhin Appiah – Deputy Examination Officer

Dr. Ishmael Kyei – Clinical Coordinator

Dr. Francis Aitpillah – Postgraduates Coordinator for Residency Training  

Dr. Adofo Koranteng - Chief Research Assistant

Ms. Florence Vera Andoh - Principal Administrative Assistant

Mr. Ernest Owusu Quainoo - Messenger - Ministry of Health, K.A.T.H

 

Research/Projects ad Collaborations

Research continues to be a major focus of the Department and all consultants have research programmes.  New and ongoing research programmes include:

  1. Breast cancer (ongoing)
  2. Aetiology of gastric outlet obstruction (ongoing)
  3. Gastric malignancies (ongoing)
  4. Prospective study in typhoid perforations (ongoing)
  5. Buruli ulcer management and disability studies(ongoing)
  6. Burns prevention disability studies (ongoing)
  7. Epidemiology of trauma and violence in Ghana (ongoing)
  8. Colonic cancers (ongoing)
  9. Sigmoid volvulus (ongoing)
  10. Acute abdomen management and prevention in sub-Saharan Africa Hospital (ongoing)
  11. Neonatal malformations (ongoing)
  12. Malformations in children (ongoing)
  13. Hirschsprung’s disease management (ongoing)
  14. Prostate cancer (ongoing)
  15. Male Infertility (ongoing)
  16. Priapism (ongoing)
  17. Cleft lip and palate deformity (ongoing)
  18. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (ongoing)
  19. Autogenous tissue for reconstruction in the maxillofacial region (ongoing)
  20. CNS abnormalities (ongoing)
  21. Aetiology of road traffic accidents at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (ongoing)
  22. Management of complicated leg injuries at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (ongoing)
  23. Buccal mucosa uses in urethroplasty (ongoing)
  24. The incidence of chest injuries in the KATH ICU (ongoing)
  25. Pneumatic reduction of intussusceptions (ongoing)
  26. CT scan to diagnose unconfirmed cases of typhoid perforation (ongoing)
  27. Antibiotic use in burn injury management (ongoing)
  28. Importance of ultrasonography in breast imaging (ongoing)
  29. Ultrasonography and prostatic diseases
  30. Time and theatre space management
  31. Genitourinary stone diseases in Kumasi (ongoing)

 

Service to Community (CSR)

The Department of Surgery continued to give high quality specialized services to the community.  Example, two times yearly APRIDEC free Surgical Services to the people of the five Northern Regions

 

Prof. P. Donkor has been appointed as the President of West African College of Surgeons.

 

Other Activities

  1. Organized 3 specialist surgical outreach teams, under the auspices of APRIDEC Medical Group, to Upper East and Upper West Regions
  2. Together with Ghana Cleft Foundation organized a cleft surgery outreach team to Ho Regional Hospital
  3. In collaboration with the University of Utah Plastic Surgery, USA, organized plastic and reconstructive surgical services for breast reconstruction in the Ashanti Region
  4. In collaboration with the University of Michigan Breast Cancer Research Team organized 2 breast cancer seminars on breast cancer treatment and research in the Ashanti Region
  5. In collaboration with the International Urological Society/International Volunteers in Urology organized 2 seminars on treatment and research on rare Paediatric Urological pathologies at KATH
  6. Under the auspices of KATH Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit organized 2 workshops on burns wound management to nurses and doctors in KATH and beyond
  7. Attended various conferences (both locally and internationally) to upgrade their knowledge and skills in surgery