FUTURE SURGE RY
setting are used, and in what circumstances. It is very technical in terms of the physics, but if you understand the science, you can use the technology to much greater effect.” Finally, the tour concluded with a memorable educational experience – ‘transporting’ the trainee into a surgical wound. Donning a VR headset, the trainee is projected into a virtual reality world where they are surrounded by bacteria inside a wound, while viewing a suture protrude above them, as it becomes enveloped in a biofilm.
Understanding how sutures can become colonised and how surgical site infections develop, through this immersive experience, offers trainees a powerful reminder of the importance of infection prevention care bundles and the role of antimicrobial sutures. “It is increasingly difficult for operating theatre staff to get study leave away from the hospital and to find the time for training. Instead of having to go away for a day, we are bringing the training to them. “Trainees can pop into the bus at their hospital, for an hour, and understand the technology better, use a simulator, and increase their awareness of what they could have in their own hospital. We are touring for 12 weeks and have worked our way from North to South,” Sandy concluded.
Innovation With the backlog high on the agenda at Future Surgery 2022, the exhibition hall was filled with innovations aimed at driving efficiency in operating theatres – from digital technologies, and artificial intelligence, to robotic technologies. Taking centre stage at the ABHI simulation theatre, was a pioneering demonstration of a surgical technique for male
The importance
of kindness At Future Surgery 2022, Dawn Stott, CEO of the Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP), highlighted the importance of ‘kindness’ – a key theme throughout her new book ‘Telling tales: the musings of a locked down CEO’ (
www.breezy-
publications.com). When faced with lock down, she shared her thoughts and feelings, via regular emails with her work team. The result is a culmination of her musings, along with some impressions, observations and learning that formed the basis for her book. At the outset of the pandemic and working remotely, she decided the best way to bring everyone together was through one communication – a morning ‘check in’. The purpose was to raise morale, lift
Performing the simulation for the first
medical circumcision that avoids cauterisation and reduces surgical time by 80%. CircCurer is an innovative circumcision device that uses a simultaneous circular cutter with a staple mechanism, similar to an anastomotic bowel stapler. The novel approach is a step change for urologists reducing surgery times to a five-minute procedure instead of 30 minutes, which is the current standard in the UK. The technique is also ideal to be used with local anaesthetic, removing the cost and risks associated with general anaesthesia. The procedure offers patients a precise ‘machine’ incision giving optimum cosmetic result and doesn’t involve cauterisation meaning quicker healing and reduced need for post-surgery painkillers. A simulation using the novel
CircCurer device and technique was performed on the ABHI Surgical Simulation Theatre, led by consultant urological surgeon, Matthew Liew, at the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust.
time at Future Surgery, Matthew said: “Circumcision comprises of the largest UK urology waiting list burden. The COVID-19 backlog has highlighted the need for theatre efficiency, including more operations converted to local anaesthetic. “CircCurer has the potential to offer efficient surgery and improved cosmesis and has just been involved in the first reported UK pilot study with the findings being presented to the British Association of Urological Surgeons.” Revolutionary smart surgery glasses, enabling surgeons to attend live surgeries remotely, were also showcased at the event. A live simulation of a remotely assisted surgery was showcased by Prof. Jaap Bonjer in real-time, accompanied by Prof. Shafi Ahmed who dialled in remotely from South Africa.
Both experts demonstrated the benefits of
spirits and pass on important messages to ensure the organisation continued to function effectively. Her intention was for the musings to be uplifting, inspiring and to give her colleagues the opportunity to know that it was ‘OK to not be OK’. Dawn’s musings remind us of what we were going through as a nation, but also aims to inspire you to look at things differently, be kind and embrace the moment – even during difficult situations.
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the Rods&Cones remote assistance service, including smart glasses known as the visOR. The technology enables HealthTech experts, assisting surgeons, medical students, and other healthcare professionals, to see and communicate with healthcare professionals working in any operating room, anywhere in the world, in real-time. The remote expert can see, from a distance and in full HD, exactly what the surgeon sees as they operate in the OR – in combination with the other devices from the portable R&C Kit, the remote experts can follow all details and participate in the procedure by logging in to the online R&C digital communication platform. The technology enables expert supervision during critical surgery or to demonstrate a standard procedure to medical students. The R&C system makes it possible for the practitioner and the remote expert to communicate live, via audio, video, and chat, as well as share images and videos, and make live annotations during surgery. Prof. Jaap Bonjer, CEO of the Amsterdam Skills Centre, and chair and professor of surgery at the Amsterdam UMC, presented the advantages and benefits of using remote assistance services in the OR. “The remote assistance platform creates a virtual ‘four-eyes’ approach to the procedures. In other words, it provides a ‘co-pilot’ which can guide and support the surgeon at any moment increasing patient’s safety, he commented. Prof. Shafi Ahmed added: “There is a global shortage of surgeons and variations in outcomes. There are now opportunities to address these problems, by training surgeons remotely using the latest technologies.” “It is about time that we start to leverage remote technologies, as they will be key to addressing the problems in global healthcare,” he concluded.
CSJ JANUARY 2023
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