Chinese doctor saves mirror image patient in Guyana

Dr. Chen Dongmei, a member of the 20th Chinese Medical Aid Team to Guyana, collaborated with a Guyanese nephrologist to successfully treat a rare "mirror image" patient, earning widespread praise from the local community.

The 29-year-old female patient, identified by the pseudonym Marissa Rachel, suffered from uremia and urgently required hemodialysis treatment. Due to limited medical resources in Linden, she was transferred to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), located in Guyana's capital.

At GPHC, Chen and local physician Obadelle Thorne (transliteration) led a medical team to perform a semi-permanent hemodialysis catheter insertion.

Chen Dongmei (L), a member of the 20th Chinese Medical Aid Team to Guyana, poses for a photo at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. (Photo: China News Service/Wang Lin)

However, pre-operative X-rays revealed an unexpected complication: the patient had situs inversus, a rare congenital condition commonly referred to as "mirror image anatomy," in which the heart and major blood vessels are reversed compared to typical anatomy.

Chen explained that in China, semi-permanent hemodialysis catheter insertions typically use digital subtraction angiography or bedside ultrasound guidance. Unfortunately, these advanced techniques were unavailable at GPHC, requiring reliance on anatomical landmarks and the surgeon's skill and experience for a blind insertion.

Despite these challenges, the procedure went smoothly. Following the successful operation, Thorne congratulated Chen, expressing gratitude for her precise and skillful intervention, which provided the young patient with renewed hope for her future.

By Gong Weiwei