QEQM team help give Carolina her life back after debilitating Crohn’s disease

An NHS nuclear medicine technologist was one of the first patients in east Kent to have a new type of surgery that could put her Crohn’s disease into remission.

Carolina Pina had the Kono-S anastomosis procedure at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, performed by consultant general and colorectal surgeon Mohamed Boshnaq.

It is a specialist technique developed by a surgeon called Toro Kono, designed to remove the area of the bowel affected by the disease, which causes inflammation, pain and bleeding. The surgeon hand-stitches healthy bowel sections together, and trials have shown it reduces the risk of recurrence from up to 25 per cent to zero.

Carolina, 29, from Canterbury, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 18, and said she is looking forward to getting her life back.

She said: “I am looking forward to being able to get back to playing sports, and to work, and eating things I haven’t been able to eat before.

“Being diagnosed at 18 was tough; it is a very important stage in your life and although I was fit and strong-minded I faced some limitations, and symptoms such as fatigue and pain.

“I had a bad flare-up of the disease in December and needed hospital treatment, so I was fast-tracked for this procedure. I hope I am now in remission, and able to live without pain.

“I am so grateful to Mr Boshnaq and the entire team, including the porters, the housekeepers and the catering staff as well as the theatre teams, doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants who looked after me so well.”

“I can’t praise them all enough, they have given me a second chance to live my life without limitations. It’s fantastic that our hospital is able to provide this technique, and that so many more patients can benefit from it.”

Mr Boshnaq said: “I was delighted to be able to perform this surgery for Carolina. The Kono-S anastomosis is a specialised surgical technique specifically designed for our Crohn's disease patients, to reduce the risk of the disease recurring at the site of the anastomosis.

“Our commitment is to enhance the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) services at QEQM and to provide this innovative approach right here in east Kent, ensuring our patients receive world-class care that prioritises both their immediate recovery and their long-term quality of life.

"QEQM is one of few centres in the UK to offer this technique. Previously it was almost exclusively the domain of major London teaching hospitals or specific specialist centres. Being able to offer more complex IBD surgery at East Kent Hospitals saves people having to travel further afield and reduces waiting times."

The first procedure at QEQM was performed by consultant general surgeon Guiseppe Preziosi, who has a special interest in inflammatory bowel disease surgery.

He said: “The introduction of the Kono-S technique is part of our wider commitment to strengthening our IBD service at QEQM.

“It is hoped this surgical approach will reduce recurrence and improve long-term outcomes, giving patients across east Kent the best possible chance of sustained disease control and quality of life.

“It is particularly encouraging that more patients can now undergo complex IBD surgery locally, reflecting a tremendous team effort and close collaboration between surgeons and gastroenterologists.”