Korean doctors perform free surgery for Madagascar neurofibroma patient

Rasoanandrasana Vaosolo, a neurofibroma patient from the Republic of Madagascar, poses with surgeons from the Korea University Anam Hospital. (Korea University Anam Hospital)

Surgeons at Korea University Anam Hospital have offered pro bono surgery to a 30-year-old neurofibroma patient named Rasoanandrasana Vaosolo from the Republic of Madagascar, the hospital said Thursday.

KUAH, one of the leading health institutions here, said that it decided to conduct the operation as well as cover the patient’s medical expenses as the developing country lacks healthcare infrastructure.

A neurofibroma is a type of peripheral nerve tumor that forms soft bumps on or under the skin. In the case of the patient, the tumor had grown in size large enough to cover her right eye and face, which reduced her vision.

Vaosolo had gone through three surgeries under the guidance of Professor Chung Jae-ho, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Jung Kwang-yoon, a professor at the hospital’s Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Professor Lee Hwa from the Department of Ophthalmology, according to the institution.

It added that the surgeons successfully operated, explaining that the patient’s eyesight and facial asymmetry had been fixed.

By Park Jun-hee(junheee@heraldcorp.com)