After completing his postgraduate training (MS –Master of Surgery) in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from Sri Lanka, Vat moved to United Kingdom in 2004 to pursue his advanced training. He continued his training in Yorkshire and London. He completed his Specialty training in London Deanery and was awarded the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in 2011. During the last 3 years of training he underwent advanced skills training in laparoscopic surgery, emergency gynaecology and early pregnancy at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital, London, at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London and at Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow. He continued his advanced training in minimal access surgery and endometriosis as a post CCT fellow at The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and its Endometriosis Centre, London. After completing basic and intermediate training in ultrasound scanning, he also underwent advanced training in Queen Charlotte Hospital and King’s College London and obtained Post Graduate diploma in Medical Ultrasound (Gynaecology and Early Pregnancy) with Merit from King’s College London. He was appointed as Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Wexham Park and Heatherwood Hospitals (currently Frimley Health NHS) in 2012. Currently he is the Lead for Early pregnancy services at the hospital.

He has extensive experience in all benign gynaecology conditions including menstrual disorders, endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, fibroid, ovarian cysts and uterovaginal prolapse. He has particular interest in early pregnancy and minimal access surgery including endometriosis and reproductive surgery. He runs regular general gynaecology, early pregnancy and dedicated recurrent miscarriage clinics in the Trust. Through his advanced training, he aims to perform most of the surgeries via laparoscopy (key hole surgery) including hysterectomy, ovarian cyst removal, fibroid removal, ectopic pregnancy and endometriosis. This approach helps his patients to have major surgeries with minimal scars in the tummy (usually 2 or 3 scars of 5 to 10 mm in size) with early recovery and early return to work. His extensive experience in ultrasound scanning helps him to diagnose gynaecology and early pregnancy conditions with confidence. He also performs 3D ultrasound scans for investigations in particular to diagnose uterine (womb) anomalies.

 

Memberships

1. Member of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG)
2. Diplomate of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (DFSRH)
3. Member of British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE)
4. Member of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)
5. Member of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ISUOG)
6. Member of Sri Lankan College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SLCOG)

 

Research

Mr Vathanan firmly believes translational research input into clinical practice and contributed significantly in to medical research. He has completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Research with Merit from The University of Leeds. He authored 5 research articles in scientific journals and 1 chapter in RCOG StratOG training module. He also peer reviewed 2 researches and 1 review article for journals. He has made numerous presentations at national and international conferences. He still continues his passion for research even as a busy clinician.

Publications

1. A Comparative Observational Study of the Use of Saline Uterine Hydrosonography for the Diagnosis and Assessment of Uterine Cavity Lesions in Women. Int J Reprod Med. 2016; 2016:9317194. doi: 10.1155/2016/9317194. Epub 2016 Aug
2. Defining safe criteria to diagnose miscarriage: prospective observational multicentre study. BMJ 2015;351:h4579 doi: 10.1136/bmj.h4579
3. Obstetric anal sphincter injury risk reduction: a retrospective observational analysis. J. Perinat. Med. 2014; aop DOI 10.1515/jpm-2013-0269.
4. External validation of models and simple scoring systems to predict miscarriage in intrauterine pregnancies of uncertain viability. Hum. Reprod. 2013; 28 (11): 2905-2911.
5. The urine protein heat coagulation test - a useful screening test for proteinuria in pregnancy in developing countries: a method validation study. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2004; 111( 5), 491.

Published Abstracts

1. 1. A multicentre trial on the performance and complications of a two-step triage protocol based on initial serum progesterone and serial serum hCG to manage pregnancy of unknown location (PUL). Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol, 48: 227. doi:10.1002/uog.16678
2. External validation of models and simple scoring systems to predict miscarriage in intrauterine pregnancies of uncertain viability. BJOG-An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2013, Vol:120, ISSN:1470-0328, Pages:541-541
3. Ultrasound based criteria for the selection of women for hysteroscopic removal of retained products rather than conventional suction curettage. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. September 2012, Volume 40, Supplement S1, Page 177
4. Maternal and Fetal Outcome of Macrosomia. Fetal and Neonatal an edition of Archives of Disease in Childhood. June 2010, Volume 95, Supplement 1, Page Fa105
5. A study of factors affecting the outcome of hydrothermal endometrial ablation BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Sep 2008, Vol 115, Issue Supplement s1, Page 230.

 

Teaching

Vat teaches medical students from Southampton University and trains junior doctors from Oxford deanery. He is the site lead for University of Southampton Medical School undergraduates in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Wexham Park Hospital. He is also a faculty member of the Oxford deanery Laparoscopic simulation training for the O&G trainees. He is an accredited training preceptor of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) for advanced training in emergency Gynaecology and early pregnancy. He is an educational and a clinical supervisor for specialty trainees of Oxford deanery.

 

Personal note

Vat is married with 2 children. Along with English he can converse fluently in Tamil and Sinhala. In spite of his busy schedule he finds time to spend with his family and kids, travelling and walking. He is keen in charity work and currently involved in helping orphans affected by the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.