JUBA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- For the past two years, 52-year-old South Sudanese timber dealer John Tom Ladu had endured severe pain from an abnormal groin swelling that left him too exhausted to work.
His ordeal finally ended on Monday when he underwent surgery at Juba Teaching Hospital, where doctors from the 13th Chinese medical team in South Sudan diagnosed him with a bilateral inguinal hernia and successfully treated the condition.
An inguinal hernia occurs when internal tissue, such as part of the intestine, pushes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, often causing a visible bulge in the groin area.
"Everything is very good. The surgery went very smoothly. I am very satisfied. The Chinese doctors are excellent," Ladu told Xinhua on Wednesday, the day after being discharged from the hospital.
Chinese surgeons Wu Chunli and Guan Chunfeng performed the landmark procedure, marking the first laparoscopic bilateral inguinal hernia tension-free repair at Juba Teaching Hospital using advanced laparoscopic equipment donated through China's medical aid program.
Laparoscopic hernia repair is a minimally invasive technique in which surgeons use a laparoscope, a thin tube equipped with a tiny camera, inserted through three to four small incisions to guide the operation.
Wu said the successful completion of the advanced procedure represents an important milestone for South Sudan's surgical services.
"It signals a new stage in which public hospitals in South Sudan are beginning to move beyond reliance on traditional open surgery and embrace modern minimally invasive techniques," he said.
To ensure the new equipment could be safely used in clinical practice, the Chinese medical team spent nearly a month conducting inventory checks, site planning, installation, commissioning and comprehensive system testing.
"The introduction of minimally invasive surgery to Juba Teaching Hospital was not easy. Since the 13th Chinese medical team began preparing for the project, it took nearly one year to complete a series of complex procedures, including equipment application, procurement, international transportation, hospital coordination, site selection, installation and testing," said Zhang Erqing, leader of the Chinese medical team.
During the operation, the doctors carefully controlled every step of the procedure, handled key anatomical structures with precision, and adjusted the surgical plan as needed.
"Through close teamwork, rich clinical experience and solid technical skills, the team successfully overcame every challenge during the operation and completed the first laparoscopic bilateral inguinal hernia tension-free repair at Juba Teaching Hospital," Zhang said.
Just 12 hours after the operation, the medical team conducted its first postoperative ward round. Ladu, with stable vital signs, was already able to eat, move and pass urine and stool without difficulty.
The groundbreaking procedure also served as an on-site training session, where more than 20 South Sudanese doctors and nurses observed the surgery.
To support their long-term professional development, the Chinese medical team distributed self-compiled laparoscopic surgery manuals to local medical staff.
