The recovery of 18-year-old Ernesto Rafael Parada Roche, the first patient to undergo the first microtia reconstructive surgery in Holguin, is progressing successfully on July 7th.
The procedure corrects a congenital malformation of the external ear, where the ear fails to develop properly. In Ernesto Rafael’s case, his auricle was completely reconstructed. As he was completely missing one ear and had only a hint of skin in its place.
As part of the surgery, costal cartilage was removed. While not classified as one of the most complex procedures. It must be performed with extreme skill because it is located close to the pulmonary pleura. Which can pose complications for the patient. The cartilage was then carved and grafted onto the ear, like the framework of the auricle.
More than five days after the procedure, the young man, who will soon begin his Psychology degree at the University of Holguin, confesses, “After the operation, I felt a little pain, but it’s normal; it’s part of the recovery process. I’m grateful to all the doctors and the rest of the team for the work they’ve done. This boosts my self-esteem; it’s as if I’ve become a new person. A transformation that one brings to one’s life.”
Then he recalls the moments before entering the room: “Before the operation, they had to give me IVs. I was a little nervous because I’m also afraid of needles, but I held on because I was nervous. When they gave me the anesthesia, it was like the world vanished. And when I woke up, I was already operated on. It was hard to open my eyes a little, but I was better,” he concluded.
At this pediatric institution, feats, often unimaginable, are performed daily to restore health to the littlest ones in this northeastern region. Even amid the complexities facing the sector. The first reconstructive surgery for microtia in Holguin is a reality. A success achieved by a team of Plastic Surgery and Caumatology specialists, led by Dr. Jorge Enrique Márquez Camayd. Who explains that these procedures are not easy because they require a great deal of care. Above all, a great deal of sensitivity from the surgeon and a great deal of love for the profession.
“This isn’t a new operation, but it is the first time it’s been performed at the center, as it’s considered complex. It involves several interventions, and until now, it had only been performed in category five hospitals in Havana. We plan to perform two operations on this patient, and this first one was truly successful, lasting two hours and 20 minutes.
Everything went very well. The patient lives in the municipality of Cacocum, is the son of working-class parents, and has been very cooperative. The family is very happy with the results. We feel very confident and are working as hard as we can to ensure his recovery.”
“We were then reassured; we had all the conditions to undertake the operation here. We made the proposal to the hospital management, and they were very cooperative in securing what was needed, and it was possible. We brought the entire team together and said, ‘Let’s do this.’
We proceeded to self-prepare and look for what we needed. We have the human talent, the capacity, and surgical skill as well. We prepared ourselves better and faced this challenge,” stated the head of the Plastic Surgery and Caumatology Department.
In addition to these specialists, other services and specialties within the institution, such as Anesthesiology, Otorhinolaryngology, and Maxillofacial Surgery, contributed to the success of the procedure. This malformation is similar to the global trend in Holguin, with a prevalence of one case per 20,000 births.
Until now, reconstructive surgery for Microtia was not available locally. From now on, it will be implemented as a protocol for the child and adolescent population in the territory. With a significant impact on their health and, especially, on their quality of life. This condition causes great anxiety for those affected, especially children, making them targets of bullying.
This surgery, in addition to changing Ernesto Rafael’s life, also had a positive impact on his immediate family: his parents, Cecilia Roche Silva and Rafael Parada Pérez, who witnessed the stigma their son had to face from birth.
Cecilia reaffirms, “I have no words to express my gratitude to this group of doctors and surgeons, especially Dr. Márquez, who gave me confidence and support from the beginning. He promised to help my son in every way he could.
I explained his life before the operation, how he lived, the disorders he had, and he, very humanely, understood me, as a mother, as a person. Today, we as parents will be eternally grateful to the doctor and to the entire surgical team who supported us so that today he could achieve his dreams.”
Rafael Parada, the father, also couldn’t help but thank those involved in the transformation his son will undergo from now on. “We know that his self-esteem, his mood, and even his relationships with his classmates are going to be much better. It has been a radical change for his life and for us as a family as well.
We know the doctors prepared, studied how to do it, and always told us they would do their best to ensure the surgery was as perfect as possible, and here is the result. We are very grateful to Dr. Márquez and everyone involved in the surgery, both in the previous process and the one currently underway. The fact that other children don’t have to travel to Havana for this type of surgery is an achievement of Holguin medicine, and we are eternally grateful to all the doctors who contributed,” he concluded.
Although the ideal age for the surgery varies, specialists agree that the cartilage of the auricle reaches optimal maturity between eight and 10 years of age. However, in Cuba, those affected reach adulthood and have not undergone surgery.
Having the possibility of offering this service in a standardized manner in the future means that the healthcare system will be able to provide a better surgical response to this malformation.
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