video system that is used to performkeyhole surgery.

The organ – which produces digestivejuices and insulin – is situated in aprecarious position in the back of theabdomen.

It is extremely close to the colon,stomach and liver, as well as majorarteries and veins.

The procedure requires tremendousprecision and skill as one tiny mistake canhave dire consequences with a risk ofheavy blood loss.

As the pancreas also contains digestiveenzymes, extreme care has to be taken toensure that they don’t leak out because ifthey do, they will start to break downanything they come into contact with.

International patients – who learn ofMr Abu Hilal’s skills after trawling theInternet – pay around £15,000 to havethe keyhole operation done privatelyhere.

It is not yet available in manycountries so many foreignerswould rather travel toSouthampton to undergo theprocedure to remove theirtumour, than have themajor surgery on offer athome.

Keyhole surgery hasmany benefits overtraditional opensurgery, as there is a muchsmaller incision, including amuch quicker

recovery time and less scarring and pain.Another new groundbreaking treatment

is being used at Southampton which,allows surgeons to treat otherwiseinoperable tumours, by shrinking themwith aggressive chemotherapy until theyare small enough to remove throughsurgery. Southampton is also the biggestcentre in the country for liver keyholesurgery, which father-of-two Mr AbuHilal carries out with his esteemedcolleague Mr Pearce, who conducted thefirst laparoscopic liver procedure.

Since 2003, 100 of the liver procedureshave been conducted at Southampton,more than anywhere else in the country.

The two men have set up a course toteach surgeons across the country therelevant skills.

“I am very proud that I have workedwith Neil Pearce and developed

Southampton as one of theleading centres.

“The main responsibilitythat I have isn’t to keepthis in Southamptonbecause I want everyone inthe country and hopefully

the world to benefit fromthis wonderfulpossibility.”

9

Despite catchingpneumonia shortlyafterwards (not aconsequence of thesurgery), she recoveredmuch more quickly thanshe would have donefrom the traditionalopen surgery.

Eight months on,Libby has met a newpartner after being onher own for a long timeand is enjoying a newlease of life.

“I am happier nowthan I have been foryears,” she smiles.

“It is quite amazing

when you feel so illbefore and so muchbetter afterwards.

“I have actuallystarted to be able tolook forward to thingsand plan ahead.

“I could never dothings like go onholiday before becauseI never knew when Iwas going to get thepain.”

And there is one manshe wants to thank –Mr Abu Hilal.

“He has changed mylife and I can’t thankhim enough.

“He is quite shy but Iwould like to give him ahug to say thank you.

“Without soundingcorny, I can’t describemy admiration for himhaving the knowledgeand the skill to do that.

“He is modest and hassuch a good manner.

“He came in to seeme after the operationon the Saturday and theSunday when he wasn’tactually working.

“He doesn’t have abig ego whenhe could have.

““

surgery has transformed her life

*Continued on page 10

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