KNH makes medical history after doctors perform Africa’s first tubeless tracheal reconstruction

KNH makes medical history after doctors perform Africa’s first tubeless tracheal reconstruction - A view of the entrance to the Kenyatta National Hospital. (Photo: KNH)

The five-hour operation was conducted on September 24, 2026, at the hospital’s Prime Care Centre on 26-year-old Dennis Kaiser Omondi, who had experienced breathing difficulties for nearly two decades.

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has made medical history after successfully performing what it describes as Africa’s first-ever tubeless tracheal reconstruction, offering new hope to patients suffering from complex airway conditions.

The five-hour operation was conducted on September 24, 2026, at the hospital’s Prime Care Centre on 26-year-old Dennis Kaiser Omondi, who had experienced breathing difficulties for nearly two decades.

The procedure was led by Dr Joseph Mutie, a consultant cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon, working alongside Dr Ruel Maina, an ear, nose and throat specialist, and Dr Caroline Abuya, a consultant anaesthesiologist and intensivist.

Omondi was diagnosed with a benign growth in his windpipe in 2008. Subsequent medical investigations revealed narrowing of the trachea, which restricted airflow, as well as an abnormal opening between the windpipe and the skin of his neck. The conditions affected his breathing, voice and daily activities.

Unlike conventional airway surgery, which typically involves the use of a breathing tube that may obstruct the surgeon’s view, the new technique allowed the medical team to operate without a conventional breathing tube in the surgical field.

According to KNH, the approach provided the surgeon with better visibility and access to the affected area. It also enabled the use of a bronchoscope, a small camera inserted into the airway, to identify the diseased section precisely and ensure that only the affected tissue was removed.

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The hospital said the technique required careful planning and close coordination between the surgical and anaesthesia teams to maintain adequate oxygen levels and patient safety throughout the operation. Omondi breathed naturally during the procedure.

During the surgery, the team removed the narrowed sections of the windpipe, closed the abnormal opening known as a fistula, and reconnected the healthy ends of the trachea to restore a clear passage for breathing.

KNH said the approach could offer several advantages, including reduced injury to the delicate lining of the windpipe, faster healing, a simplified surgical process and shorter operating times.

Dr Mutie described the achievement as a significant milestone in the treatment of complex airway conditions.

“This technique, the first in Africa, gives surgeons a clearer view of the affected windpipe, helping them work more precisely when treating complex airway conditions,” he said, adding that it represented an important step forward in specialised medical care in Kenya.