A team of cardiothoracic surgeons at Machakos Level 5 Hospital led by Dr Deborah Mutile perform non-invasive laser surgical procedure on a patient suffering from Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI).Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has hailed doctors at Machakos Level 5 Hospital after the facility became the first public hospital in Kenya to successfully perform a non-invasive laser surgical procedure on a patient suffering from Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI).
The achievement places the hospital in the history books as a pioneer in offering advanced treatment that, until now, was only available in private hospitals at prohibitive costs.
Laser surgery uses beams of light to treat conditions inside the body without doctors having to make large cuts with scalpels.
Instead, the targeted light penetrates the skin, allowing surgeons to seal off faulty blood vessels or destroy abnormal tissue.
The procedure is considered safer, less painful, and allows quicker recovery compared to traditional operations.
CVI, the condition treated at the hospital, occurs when the veins—especially those in the legs—struggle to return blood to the heart because of damaged valves or vein walls.
This is closely linked to varicose veins, which are enlarged, twisted veins often visible under the skin.
While varicose veins are sometimes just a cosmetic issue, CVI is a serious medical condition.
It can lead to swelling, skin changes, or painful ulcers if untreated.
Not all varicose veins develop into CVI, but they can be an early sign of the disease.
To treat CVI using the new method, doctors beam laser light on the affected vein.
Different wavelengths of light target specific parts of the tissue, which then absorb the energy.
This process can seal small blood vessels, shrink or destroy abnormal growths, and stop blood from pooling in the legs.
The entire procedure usually takes less than an hour and can be carried out under local anaesthesia.
Speaking after the historic operation, Ndeti expressed pride in her county’s medical achievement.
“Until now, this life-saving treatment was only available in private hospitals at a very high cost, excluding many who could not afford it,” she said.
“Today, under my administration and with the support of the Social Health Authority (SHA), our people can now access this advanced procedure completely free of charge.”
The surgery was performed by a team of cardiothoracic surgeons led by Dr Deborah Mutile.
She explained that patients with CVI previously had to undergo vein stripping, a procedure that required cutting the skin to remove the faulty vein entirely.
“Vein stripping comes with longer hospital stays, longer recovery times, and a higher risk of complications,” Dr Mutile said.
“With this minimally invasive technology, the patient can go home the same day, and the recovery takes a shorter time.”
Ndeti described the breakthrough as a source of hope for Kenyans and a symbol of Machakos county’s commitment to improving healthcare.
“I wish to sincerely thank Dr Deborah Mutile, cardiothoracic surgeon, and her outstanding medical team for their dedication, skill, and excellence in delivering this groundbreaking procedure,” she said.
The milestone is expected to boost confidence in public hospitals and ease the burden on patients who previously had to spend large sums in private facilities or go without treatment altogether.
