News In 2024
The Starting Signal for a New Otologic Partnership
Our NGO EAGLE-ENT, in close collaboration with Interplast, has been dedicated to advancing otologic surgery in Southeast Asia - especially in Myanmar - for nearly 15 years.
Between 2010 and 2020, under the leadership of Dr. Eberhard Biesinger, we conducted around ten medical missions, performing various ear surgeries, including middle-ear and cochlear implant operations. One of our guiding principles has always been “help for self-help.” Through on-site temporal bone courses and internships in Germany, we successfully trained local colleagues to perform surgeries independently.
Since the onset of COVID-19 and the political unrest in Myanmar, field missions have been suspended. To maintain exchange and education, we launched a weekly online webinar series (www.carematters.de) with case discussions and “Meet the Expert” lectures. Over the past four years, this initiative has expanded to include colleagues from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, fostering a friendly and productive collaboration.
Expanding to Cambodia
Because of limited training opportunities, ear surgeries in Cambodia are rare and performed in only two hospitals—a concerning reality for a population of 17 million, with about 7% suffering from chronic ear infections—mainly children, which can be life-threatening—and resulting hearing loss.
Our initial mission from January 2–13, 2024, aimed to perform pilot surgeries, assess local infrastructure, and establish new partnerships. Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, I was warmly received by the deputy director and a young ENT doctor from Calmette Hospital. The clinic primarily provides outpatient care, with only four inpatient beds used for postoperative sinus surgery patients.
The ENT department lacks a dedicated surgical microscope, so we relied on the neurosurgical one—underscoring an urgent need for ENT-specific equipment. The instrument tray was well stocked, mainly with South Korean tools, but without trained surgical assistants, procedures were slower than in Germany. For mastoid surgeries such as cholesteatoma removal, we used the neurosurgical drill, which, while functional, lacks precision near delicate structures like the facial nerve and ossicles. Providing an ENT drill is a key goal for future missions.
We assembled the microscope and Storz drill we brought and held a mini temporal bone workshop with plastic models for young doctors. These experiences helped identify how to optimize workflows, teaching, and equipment for future visits.
Institutional Collaboration
Beyond clinical work, I met with the German Ambassador, Mr. Messerer, and Professor Vento, dean of the medical university. The ambassador shared insights into Cambodia’s political and healthcare systems and highlighted persistent gender disparities in leadership—a reality also visible in the hospital’s staffing.
Professor Vento outlined the medical education system, which spans eight years and includes English as a core subject. Practical and clinical training, however, begins only after graduation. Because of this structure, postgraduate training like ours—through webinars and missions—is essential for young ENT specialists.
This initial mission was both meaningful and motivating, laying the foundation for a long-term Cambodian-German partnership. Our goal is to invite two Cambodian doctors to Germany for intensive training and to return with a larger team for follow-up surgeries and teaching later this year.
Continuation of Activities in Cambodia
From April 27 to May 10, 2024, two ENT colleagues from Calmette Hospital completed internships in Germany and Austria, supported by the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (Prof. Betz) and the Landeskrankenhaus Salzburg (Prof. Rasp).
In Hamburg, they studied temporal bone anatomy and surgery, observed live ear operations, and practiced in the temporal bone lab using plastic models. They also attended the annual congress of the German Society for Otorhinolaryngology, engaging with international experts and expanding their professional networks.
In Salzburg, supported by the Austrian American Foundation, they participated daily in ear surgeries and practical training sessions while staying at Schloss Arenberg. On May 18, they returned home well-equipped and motivated to apply their new skills.
Through these activities, we have once again achieved sustainable training and knowledge transfer. Our next step is to send a team to Cambodia by the end of 2024 to support these colleagues in performing surgeries independently and to continue building a strong foundation for otologic care in the region.