Jipmer opens surgical simulation centre

Established at a cost of ₹5.8 crore, it is the only facility in the country which has a RoSS robotic trainer

April 04, 2017 12:56 am | Updated 08:44 am IST - Puducherry

PUDUCHERRY, 03/04/2017,  JIPMER has established a state-of-the-art surgical simulation centre to train surgeons in a range of operating procedures.  Photo: Special Arrangement

PUDUCHERRY, 03/04/2017, JIPMER has established a state-of-the-art surgical simulation centre to train surgeons in a range of operating procedures. Photo: Special Arrangement

Jipmer has set up a state-of-the-art surgical simulation training centre that would help surgeons hone skills before moving on to performing robotic procedures on patients.

Robotic Surgical Simulators are computer technology-based equipment developed to perform operations and procedures in machines for the purpose of training medical professionals. Performing model operations in computer-assisted machines is mandatory before moving to performing robotic surgeries on human patients.

The simulation centre established in Jipmer’s Department of Surgical Gastroenterology has ultrasound scan simulator, three virtual reality laparoscopic surgery simulators with real touch feeling, advanced ROSS robotic surgery trainer and nursing care simulator.

Skill exercises

Inaugurating the facility, Dr. S.C. Parija, Jipmer Director, said that the robotic surgery simulator will teach skill exercises to the surgeon so that they are well versed with the technique of robotic surgery before they operate on the patients.

JIPMER is the only centre in India which has RoSS robotic trainer.

Dr. Parija also emphasised the need for simulation based training in the field of medical education to improve the skills for medical students and young surgeons.

Robotic surgery, he said, is an emerging technique in which the operative procedure is performed by the robotic arms instead of human arm. The movement of the robotic arms is controlled by the surgeon sitting in the control centre located away from the patient.

The facility has been established at a cost of ₹5.8 crore. The machines came from U.S., France, Canada and Israel.

3D orientation

Dr. Biju Pottakkat, Additional Professor and Head of the Department of Surgical Gastroenterology said that the ultrasound simulator established in Jipmer simulation centre is the most advanced equipment currently available in the world and gives the trainee 3D orientation of the internal organs and various abdominal diseases like gall stones, kidney stones or tumours.

It also has an echocardiography training facility also. The virtual reality laparoscopic simulators established in Jipmer help medical professionals rehearse commonly performed operative procedures in machines such as removal of gallbladder and appendix before they operate on the patients. The equipment will put marks for the surgeon to let him know whether he/she performed the procedure correctly. By repeatedly performing the procedure on the simulator they can improve their skills and perform the procedure on the patients in a better way and without complications.

“Robotic surgery places the surgeon in a very different operating environment where, unlike in conventional laparoscopy, there is no tactile involvement. So, it is imperative to get an orientation in a simulated environment before moving on to the actual procedure,” said Dr. Kalayarasan R Assistant Professor of the Department of Surgical Gastroenterology at Jipmer.

Apart from the fantastic proposition of a surgeon being able to command robotic arms to perform a procedure on a patient anywhere in the world, from the skills perspective, robotic surgery allows superior and deeper access into certain areas of the anatomy while robotic arms enjoy a greater degree of freedom of movement, Dr. Kalayarasan said.

Jipmer is expected to upgrade to full-fledged robotic surgery with the arrival of state-of-the-art equipment, comprising robotic arms, patient console and monitor in about three months.

The launch of the facility was followed by the first simulation course in advanced minimal access GI surgery which was attended by 15 selected trainees and faculty from various medical colleges in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.

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