SUNDAY 4 FEBRUARY, 2018 – UWI TODAY
15
CAMPUS NEWS
The practice of surgery
has evolved with dramatic
transformations in the way procedures are performed.
This evolution has been largely patient outcome driven
and facilitated by technological advances. In years gone by,
surgery required large incisions for maximum exposure
and easier removal of affected structures. The downside
was high patient morbidity and mortality, as patient stress
responses and complications were highly dependent on the
incisions. Towards the end of the 20th century minimally
invasive surgery came into vogue as it demonstrated that
surgery could be performed with smaller incisions and
better outcomes for the patient. Indeed, it was because of
technological advances that video directed (laparoscopic)
surgery became a reality and allowedmajor operations to be
performed with very small incisions. Patients have been the
major beneficiaries as these procedures are associated with
more rapid recovery, less pain, better cosmetic outcomes
and faster return to productive work. Over the last 25 years
we have witnessed exponential advancements to a point
where surgeries (including weight loss surgery) can now
be performed with no visible scars.
Another major boundary crossed is in the treatment of
Type 2 diabetes, a lifestyle disorder associated with weight
gain and poor eating habits leading to insulin resistance and
abnormally high levels of sugar in the blood. It ismanaged by
diet, exercise andmedications, including insulin, if not well
controlled. When obese diabetics underwent weight loss
surgery, it was found that their diabetes resolved within days
of surgery, long before any weight loss occurred. Research
has shown that this results from significant hormonal and
metabolic changes within the gastrointestinal tract. This
A star studded Cane Farmcricket team
was not enough to defeat
a well-disciplined Powergen Cricket team in the 2018 UNICOM
UWI T20 cricket tournament hosted at the Sir FrankWorrell Field
of The UWI at SPEC from January 12-20, 2018.
Following the semi-finals, which involved, Cane Farm, Merry
Boys, Powergen and Central Sports, it came down to a final with
the defending champions, Cane Farm, taking on Powergen.
That game went down to a thrilling last over where Cane
Farm could not stop Powergen from hitting eight runs off Lendl
Simmons bowling in the last over. Needing to make two runs off
the final ball Powergen skipper Ancil Bhaggan clipped one to deep
square leg and scurried, picking up two singles and avoiding a near
run-out to gift his team the $35,000 prize.
Batting first, Cane Farm found it tough against a stubborn
bowling attack who managed to restrict their opponents to 127-7
off 20 overs. After Lendl Simmons scored a quick 34 off 24 balls it
looked like it could be one of those days for the big-hitting West
Indies opener; however it was not meant to be. Rayad Emrit’s
unbeaten 24 off 17 helped the Cane Farm boys post a respectable
total.
Darron Cruickshank was the pick for the Powergen bowlers
(and earned the title of Player of the Series) taking two for 20
while Mark Deyal chipped in with another consistent bowling
display (2-23).
Despite the small total, Powergen’s fans were tense as they
knew that Cane Farm had the a host of world class bowlers
including Sunil Narine, who’s tight bowling only went for nine runs
off his four overs with one wicket, while Roshan Primus, (2-13)
made the game a great spectacle. Tight bowling by Cane Farm’s
star bowlers could not stop the thunderous Evin Lewis, who was
able to put Simmons’ men under pressure with his knock of 34 off
24, while the eventual man of the match, Jerron Maniram, scored
a rapid 23 to help his team win the tournament (128-8).
SCARLESS
SURGERY
FOR DIABETES
has led to so-called “Metabolic Surgery” which is surgery
aimed at reversingmetabolic disorders, especially diabetes.
Conventional surgery removes or fixes a defective
organ or structure. With diabetes, surgery is used to treat
a lifestyle disorder by altering a normal organ or structure.
A true paradigm shift.
Professor Dilip Dan joined the University of theWest
Indies, St Augustine Campus as a Lecturer in General
Surgery in 2004. His Professorship was awarded in 2015
at which time he was made Head of the Department of
Clinical Surgical Sciences, University if the West Indies.
He is a Caribbean pioneer in laparoscopic and Bariatric
surgery and his research area reflects this. Professor
Dan’s accomplishments as a surgeon and his continued
contribution to the surgical field in the region through
education and training are the basis for his advancement.
His contributions to the field of Surgery in Trinidad
and Tobago was nationally recognized in August 2015
when he received a national award – the Hummingbird
Medal Gold – for his work in the public sector.
He is the Chairman and President of the Caribbean
Obesity Society (COS), President of the T&T Chapter of
the American College of Surgeons (ACSTT) and the Vice
President of the Caribbean Association of Endoscopic
Surgeons (CaSES). He also served as President of the
Society of Surgeons of T&T (SOSTT) and is an executive
member of the Caribbean College of Surgeons and the
John Sabga Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. In addition, he
is the Caribbean coordinator for the Curaçao Laparoscopic
Workshop (CLW). He has recently been appointed
University Examiner by The UWI for Surgery
Professor Dilip
Dan
gave his
professorial
inaugural lecture
on February 1
on
“Crossing
Boundaries: From
Scarless Surgery
to Surgery for
Diabetes.”
Powergen Cricket Team – 2018 UNICOMUWI T20 Champions
Professor Dilip Dan
Patients have been the major beneficiaries as these procedures are associated with more rapid recovery,
less pain, better cosmetic outcomes and faster return to productive work.
