Baby Satrine good to go after head surgery

Cyprian Osinya rests on his father Benson Osinya's shoulder after they arrived at Kenyatta National Hospital from Mombasa on March 25 2014. Photo/PHOEBE OKALL 

In Summary
Five neurosurgeons under Dr Chris Musau started the operation at 8.30am and wheeled out the 18-month-old boy from the operation theatre some minutes past 11am.
By Eunice Kilonzo @eunicekkilonzo ekilonzo@ke.nationmedia.com
Doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital on Tuesday successfully removed a bullet from Satrine Osinya’s head following a gun attack at a church in Likoni, Mombasa.

Five neurosurgeons under Dr Chris Musau started the operation at 8.30am and wheeled out the 18-month-old boy from the operation theatre some minutes past 11am. (READ: Boy shot in church raid now at KNH for surgery - VIDEO)

The bullet, slightly over two centimetres and smaller than a standard bullet, had gone through the skull and a few millimetres of it was lodged in his brain. The surgeons’ challenge was to remove the bullet without affecting his vision or other bodily functions.

Neurosurgeon Mwangi Gichuru said after the operation: “The surgery was performed via intricate and safe brain dissection. We used the same path the bullet got into Osinya’s head. We did not want to create any secondary passage. We carefully got to the bullet, retrieved it and closed the wounds in his head.”

He added: “The brain is a soft organ, so we could not simply go into it and pull it (the bullet) out. Neither could we leave it there. Osinya is a growing child and leaving it there would have led to growing fractures. It required skill and expertise. We are glad to share today that it was successful.”

Dr Musau praised the hospital, saying: “Kenyans should know that KNH has a strong neurosurgical team, who can treat brain and spinal ailments.”

After surgery, Satrine woke up and showed no signs of complications. “After such an operation, we check that the brain is not swollen and that there is no bleeding. We can confirm that he is moving his limbs and is playful. There is nothing to worry about; there is no chance of him getting epilepsy or any visual issues,” Dr Mwangi announced.

When Satrine was flown in from Mombasa late last week, doctors were hesitant about removing the bullet because of a swelling in the brain. At the time, they said an operation could cause complications such as impairing the boy’s speech, memory, vision and balance.

KNH chief executive Lily Koros said of the outcome that it was “very good news. We are happy it was successful.”

On social media, Kenyans congratulated the medical team for saving the boy’s life.

Doctors believe the same bullet pulled out of the boy’s head killed his mother, Mrs Veronica Osinya, during the terror attack on Joy in Jesus Church on the morning of Sunday, March 23. Six people died and many others were injured when three gunmen opened fire on worshippers.

The Team that operated on Baby Satrine:
Neurosurgeons:

1. Gichuru Mwangi

2. Julius Kiboi

3. Samuel Njiru

4. Mohan

5. Chris Musau

Anaesthetist:

1. George Njogu

Theatre Nursing Team:

1. Nthei Muthei

2. Beatrice Khandenga

The Operation:

• Step One: Dr George Njogu administered the anaesthesia.

• Step Two: Vital organs checked as the doctors cleaned and prepared Satrine’s head.

• Step Three: Cut the marked skin around Satrine’s head,

• Step Four: Cut the skull bone

• Step Five: Slice through the dura mater, which is a tough fibrous membrane covering the brain, spinal cord and lining the inner surface of the skull.

• Step Six: Using the bullet track, meticulously reach for the bullet without injuring blood vessels in the brain.