A real opportunity has arisen for the Center for Medical Simulation to create a state-of-the-art training facility for robotic surgery using da Vinci robots.
- The March training course is designed to introduce participants to the capabilities of the device. It will also allow to assess the number of people interested in this type of training in the perspective of full-scale courses completed with an international certificate confirming the skills - informs Prof. Paweł Włodarski, Vice Rector for International Relations, Development and Promotion. - We would like to create in our University a center that educates not only doctors who operate this device, but above all trains instructors who will introduce other surgeons to robotic surgery techniques - adds Vice Rector Włodarski.
Initial discussions with the distributor of the da Vinci robot about training were held as recently as 3 years ago.
- At that time there were 5 such devices in Poland. Today we have 15, in the Czech Republic there are 17. So the situation has changed significantly and the need for training has increased - says Marcin Kaczor, MD, PhD, head of the CMS MUW.
The training course will take place between March 14 and 18 this year. It is an offer for the employees of the Medical University of Warsaw and the University Clinical Center. The course will be free of charge. The link to sign up is on the Center for Medical Simulation website.
The da Vinci robotic system training will consist of two parts. In the first, the various components of the system will be presented, robotic accessories will be discussed, and the philosophy of port placement and docking will be presented. The second will involve individual workshop exercises on the da Vinci robot simulator, a device that has all the functionality of its prototype.
- Robotic surgery will be the standard in some disciplines of surgery. Mainly in urology and gynecology - believes Prof. Wojciech Lisik, Vice Rector for Clinical Affairs and Investments. And he explains that these are operational areas in a very small scope. Using a robot gives the opportunity to perform the procedure much more accurately and consequently with less risk of complications. Today, as far as possible, all surgeries are done using minimally invasive methods. These methods include video surgery, that is laparoscopic or thoracoscopic surgery. Robotic surgery is a variation of this surgery. A variation, however, that offers much greater surgical possibilities.
- We want students, surgical trainees, and experienced physicians, to have the opportunity to learn the most modern surgical techniques. A course offered at the Center for Medical Simulation may encourage further education. I hope there will be people willing to join. I will sign up myself and see what it is all about - says Professor Lisik.
It is worth reminding that at WUM we have da Vinci XI robot. It is a donation from the Ministry of Science. It is located in the Robotic Urology Laboratory at the Infant Jesus Clinical Hospital. Recently, the Polish National Health Service approved reimbursement for robotic procedures in urology.