First Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) in Bicol Region, Southern Luzon and Visayas now in Albay
Albay is home to the first Endoscopy Unit with Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) in Bicol Region, Southern Luzon and Visayas. EUS is a specialized procedure that blends: Endoscopy — use of a scope to look at the inside lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and Ultrasound — use of high frequency sound waves to see detailed images of the bowel wall and nearby organs or structures. This advanced medical technology is used for diagnosing and treating various gastrointestinal, liver, gallbladder and pancreatic diseases and offers greater accuracy compared to traditional imaging methods such as ultrasound, CT scan and MRI.
Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center- First Government Hospital in Bicol Region with EUS
Dr. Julius Carlo Rustia (Endosonographer) with Dr. Edgar Refran (anesthesiologist) and Medical Residents Dr. Sean Patrick Sta Isabel, Dr. Kristine Valenzuela, and Dr. Gilbert Jasareno
Spearheading this is Bicol Region’s first and only Board-Certified Interventional Gastroenterologist and Endoscopic Ultrasonographer, Dr. Julius Carlo R. Rustia. His introduction of EUS in this region is a significant milestone, bringing advanced healthcare services to people in these areas.
The First EUS in Bicol performed at University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi Hospital.
Having the opportunity to be formally trained under two Centers of Excellence Institutions and mentored by two world renowned Interventional Gastroenterologists, the late Professor Dato’ Khean Lee Goh of University of Malaya Medical Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Professor Vinay Dhir of SL Raheja Hospital, Institute of Digestive and Liver Care, School of EUS in Mumbai, India, Dr. Rustia has foreseen the great use of EUS in his hometown and Bicol Region.
First EUS with core needle Biopsy done in University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi Hospital
Dr. Rustia said “Diseases of digestive tract, liver, gallbladder and pancreas has seen a significant increase in recent decades mainly due to bad lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol and eating unhealthy western diet rich in red meat and low in fiber. Colon Cancer and Liver cancer are the 3rd and 4th leading cancer in both sexes already. Furthermore, there are numerous and difficult gastrointestinal cases that we send to Manila and abroad because of the unavailability of EUS before. Now, with the availability here in Bicol, patients from all over the Bicol Region and also some parts of the Philippines can have access to EUS.”
Dr. Julius Carlo Rustia, University of Santo Tomas, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery’s 150th Sesquicentennial Anniversary Nominee for Professional Excellence with his late father, the great Dr. Joselito Rustia (surgeon), brothers Dr. Jonathan Paolo Rustia (Pulmonologist), Dr. Jedfrey Marco Rustia (Radiologist-CT/MRI) and mother Jocelyn Rustia (Pharmacist).
Dr. Rustia further stated “EUS both has diagnostic and treatment uses. It can check damage to tissues, determine whether cancer is present or has spread to lymph nodes and other tissues, provide more-detailed information about lesions identified with other imaging technologies, take deeper biopsies, drain fluids from cysts and do biliary drainage, and deliver therapies to a targeted region, such as a malignant tumor. In other words, we now have a new weapon against these diseases. We can better diagnose and treat these cases due to EUS”
ADVT.
This article is brought to you by Bicol Medical News.
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