Songkla hospital saves British man, 78

The Prince of Songkla University Hospital has performed Bt1-million worth of special surgery to save the life of a retired Briitish naval officer for humanitarian reasons and is organising donations to send him back to the UK.

Kenneth George Smith, 78, told reporters from his hospital bed that he appreciated the help from the Songklanagarind Hospital, run by the university, so that he could return home to see his daughter and grandchildren.

Dr Ruangsak Leethanaporn, director of the hospital, said the patient was transferred from the Samui Hospital with swelling of an artery in his abdomen that was about to burst and become fatal.

Ruangsak said the hospital had to perform a complicated endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) in a hybrid operating room.

Ruangsak said the hybrid operation caused over Bt1 million but the hospital did it for humanitarian reasons to save the man’s life as he was in a critical condition when he reached the hospital.He said the technique only cut a small hole in his groin so Smith could recover fast.

The director added that the hospital has also coordinated with the Immigration Bureau to prepare documents to send Smith home.

He urged the public to donate to send Smith home by sending money to the foundation of the hospital until the end of September.

The Nation 

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