N.S. doctor one of first in Canada to complete 7 hip replacements in one day

A Nova Scotia medical team performs seven hip surgeries – in a single operating room, in one day.

The orthopedic team at Dartmouth General Hospital became one of the first in Canada to complete seven hip replacement surgeries in a single operating room, in a single day, in December.

On Friday, they did it again.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jhase Sniderman says while December’s surgeries were a success, Friday’s went even smoother.

“It was a really great experience for the team and it’s very efficient,” said Sniderman.

“I think just being able to replicate it is the biggest thing, just to show it wasn’t a one-off.”

On an average operating day, Sniderman would normally do four or five surgeries, with each hip replacement taking 30 to 40 minutes.

To perform seven surgeries in one day, Sniderman says the difference wasn’t in the time it took him to operate.

“It’s mostly just the efficiency piece in terms of cleaning the room, making sure everything is set up, all the instruments are ready,” he said.

“Then the anesthesia gets done kind of simultaneously, so you have parallel processing, it’s called.”

Sniderman joined the team at Dartmouth General Hospital four months ago.

“The team here has been amazing since I’ve been here,” he said.

“Everyone’s been really committed to kind of pushing things forward and kind of getting the best for the patients in the province.”

Sniderman believes the team has set up a solid system and says they are trying to be the most efficient centre in the province.

“Anything we can do to speed up the wait times and get more patients done, I think is a good thing we can do,” he said.

While seven-surgery days may not become the norm, Sniderman says they are a good thing.

“Getting seven people off the wait list is a good achievement and I think the team can be proud of that because I think every person you get done is just another person that doesn’t have to wait as long,” he said.

“I think moving forward, maybe it’s possible to do eight.”

Everyone has an important role to play, added the surgeon – from nurses to the anesthesia team to the cleaners.

“The only way it happens is if everyone kind of works there to achieve it,” he said.

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