The first two patients to undergo knee replacement surgeries at the LBJ Hospital were discharged the day after their operations on Tuesday.
KHJ News asked the LBJ CEO Faumuina John Faumuina for an update on the surgeries.
Faumuina quoted Dr. Ledua, Chief of the Surgical Department, saying “the operations for the two patients were very successful.”
They were kept at the Surgical ward overnight after their operations on Tuesday and were released the following day.
Dr. John Edwards, the lead surgeon in the operations, is one of the missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who is volunteering at the LBJ Hospital on an 18-month mission with his wife, a social worker.
Faumuina said Dr. Ledua, who assisted Dr. Edwards, stated he is “very grateful to work alongside Dr Edwards with such expertise.”
LBJ surgeons Dr.Traill and Dr. Aitaoto assisted with the two surgeries – the first knee replacements to be carried out at the local hospital.
All of the equipment and instruments used in the surgeries were donated through the LDS Church by Zimmer Biomet, headed by Mr. Brent Hintze, who traveled here with his wife, a registered nurse.
Mr. Hintze is assisting and training medical personnel on the specialized equipment and instruments.
Another newly arrived LDS missionary starting an 18-month mission at LBJ is Dr Patch, a licensed radiologist, accompanied by his wife Janene, a Licensed Practical Nurse.
