Surgical training is a blast
It is method acting like you’ve never seen before … with a bean playing the role of a troublesome gallstone.
Northwick Park Hospital has been employing the humble legume in a unique surgical training programme to simulate the removal of painful gallstones from the bile duct.
The hospital has been at the forefront of the specialism for several years using a laser to blast complex gallbladder and bile duct stones during a single procedure.
The technique is recommended in NICE guidelines but its global use isn’t widespread due to lack of training opportunities.
In response, the hospital is hosting the UK’s first training programme with visiting surgeons getting to grips with procedural techniques using a Porcine Aorto Renal Artery model.
This is placed inside a ‘training box’ with a small access point or port which replicates the entry points used in minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures.
Alberto Martinez-Isla, a consultant Laparoscopic Upper GI Surgeon, said: “One-in- ten adults in the UK has gallstones with women, the over 40s and obese and overweight people are most likely to be affected. They can be extremely painful and result in serious complications."
“The ability to treat patients during one visit is beneficial to everyone especially during the pandemic.”
The training programme is supported by medical devices company Ethicon and the Griffin Institute.