Surgeons United
Laparoscopic Surgery in the Solomon Islands
Who is Surgeons United?
We are an organization from Switzerland with the goal to teach Laparoscopic Surgery and other surgical skills worldwide. Our focus is currently on the Solomon Islands.
What is Laparoscopic Surgery?
Laparoscopic Surgery is also known as keyhole surgery. It is a technique that uses small incisions to perform surgeries inside the abdominal cavity using a camera (Laparoscope) and a video monitor. It is the state of the art in the developed world.
It has many benefits compared to open surgery, which is still widely used in the Pacific Islands.
We teach Laparoscopic Surgery in the Solomon Islands so local doctors can use the technique on their own.
Benefits of Laparoscopic Surgery
- Reduced Blood Loss: Minimal bleeding during procedures leads to better patient outcomes
- Less Pain: Smaller incisions result in significantly reduced postoperative pain
- Faster Recovery: Patients recover much quicker and can return to normal activities sooner
- Fewer Complications: Reduced risk of wound infections and hernia development through the abdominal wall
- Better Overall Outcomes: Reduced postoperative morbidity and risk of pulmonary embolism
Length of Hospital Stay Comparison
| Procedure | Open Surgery | Laparoscopy |
|---|---|---|
| Appendectomy | 4-5 days | 1-2 days |
| Cholecystectomy | 5-7 days | 2-3 days |
| Hernia repair | 2-3 days | 0-2 days |
| Emergency operations for small intestines | 7-9 days | 2-4 days |
About the organisation
Surgeons United is a non-profit organisation founded in July 2025 in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The organisation is led by Dr. med. Silvan Hämmerli, MHBA (Zurich, Switzerland), who serves as President and is specialised in Surgery, and Dr. med. Anne Grossmann, who serves as General Secretary and is a Physician and Resident in Urology (Zurich, Switzerland). Together, they work to bring laparoscopic surgery training and expertise to healthcare professionals in the Solomon Islands and beyond.
Drs. Hämmerli and Grossmann with the Surgeons and CEO of National Referral Hospital in Honiara
Our work so far
- We have established a partnership with the National Referral Hospital
- Led multiple training sessions with residents
- Completed 17 laparoscopic procedures in our first mission from July - October 2025
Dr. John Wesley, Surgical Resident. Training for laparoscopic Surgery (August 2025)
What can YOU do to help
Funding
Funding is essential in order to keep sending Health Care Professionals to the Solomon Islands.
All of our Funding is directly used for our project (Flights, Accomodation, Insurance, Expenses)
With around 5000 US $ we can send a doctor to the Solomon Islands for one month.
Join Us
If you are a laparoscopic Surgeon and see yourself in the Solomon Islands please contact us.
We are also looking for other Health Care Professionals such as Gynacologists and Theatre nurses.
We need Surgical Instruments & Equipment
Please contact us (contact@surgeonsunited.org) if you can donate laparoscopic or surgical instruments or other medical equipment.
