Dr. Alan Barkun, Director of Endoscopy at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), a veteran of humanitarian missions, taught stent insertion techniques to more than 50 doctors, nurses and residents, a rate of 25 stents in 5 days.

This summer, Dr. Barkun, who is also Chief Quality Officer, Division of Gastroenterology at MUHC, participated in a two-week humanitarian mission to Kenya and Zambia to teach a procedure that consists in inserting a stent (a metal tube) in patients with esophageal cancer.

Esophageal cancer is common in both countries and can be so advanced that the patient can no longer swallow anything, not even his saliva. The stent allows patients to ingest drinks and crushed food to allow them to survive.

Dr. Barkun, told MUHC News that he found the doctors very competent and resourceful, “Of course, they don’t have the same access to the equipment we have here, but their level of knowledge is amazing, thanks to the Internet.”

Next stop for Dr. Barkun will be Morocco, where he intends to continue his teaching sessions.

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