Posted on 09/12/2010 5:12:14 PM PDT by decimon
McGill researchers pioneer anesthetics via videoconferencing
Videoconferences may be known for putting people to sleep, but never like this. Dr. Thomas Hemmerling and his team of McGill's Department of Anesthesia achieved a world first on August 30, 2010, when they treated patients undergoing thyroid gland surgery in Italy remotely from Montreal. The approach is part of new technological advancements, known as 'Teleanesthesia', and it involves a team of engineers, researchers and anesthesiologists who will ultimately apply the drugs intravenously which are then controlled remotely through an automated system.
This achievement is a product of an on-going scientific collaboration between Dr. Hemmerling's team and the Italian team of Dr. Zaouter of the Department of Anesthesia of Pisa University (Chairman Prof. Giunta).
"The practice has obvious applications in countries with a significant number of people living in remote areas, like Canada, where specialists may not be available on site," Hemmerling said. "It could also be used for teaching purposes, allowing the resident to perform tasks without the physical presence of a tutor, thus increasing his or her confidence level."
Four strategically placed video cameras monitored every aspect of patient care in Pisa, Italy, in real time. Ventilation parameters (such as the patient's breathing rate), vital signs (ECG, heart rate, oxygen saturation) and live images of the surgery are monitored by each camera, with the fourth used for special purposes. A remote computer station ('anesthesia cockpit') is required, as is a workstation that handles the audio-video link between the two centres. "Obviously, local anesthesiologists can override the process at any time," Hemmerling explained. Prior to the operation, an assessment of the patient's airway and medical history is also performed via video-conferencing.
The researchers are also looking at the possibility of preoperative assessment of patients at home. It used to be that invasive blood tests or other tests were required in preparation for many surgeries, but that's no longer the case. Many patients take very long journeys and often wait hours to see an anesthesiologist who will ask them specific questions, but video-conferencing could eliminate these logistical problems and probably reduce the preoperative stress of the patients coming into the hospital before surgery. "The next steps will be to confirm the results of this pilot experience with further studies," Hemmerling said.
For more information: http://www.newanesthesia.com
Print resolution photos available on request.
Credit: Credit: Dept. of Anesthesia, McGill University, Montreal.
Usage Restrictions: None
Caption: This anesthesia cockpit in Montreal is controlling anesthesia in Pisa.
Credit: Dept. of Anesthesia, McGill University
Usage Restrictions: None
Caption: This is a preoperative remote patient assessment.
Credit: Credit: Dept. of Anesthesia, McGill University, Montreal.
Usage Restrictions: None
Telegenic ping.
Several questions:
Anestaesiologists, particularly those in India or of Indian / Eastern philosophies, regard their skills as almost religious. They take it very seriously. I wonder how they weigh in on this.
Also, are we talking about a robot putting us into what kinda equates as a medically induced coma ?
And lastly, why are the operators at the laptops wearing scrubs, with caps ???
Maybe not the first. Didn’t they “conk out” several of the first “guests” to Club Gitmo, strap them to the floor of a C-141, and make the delivery?
Any computer glitch will instantly give a new meaning to "Fatal Error".
NO cheers, unfortunately.
Computers are infallible.
Blue screen of “You’re screwed”.
Gawd I hope they’re not running Windows!
I suggest they should prove out the reliability of this system by performing tele-circumcisions on some male doctors.
You don’t need an anesthesiologist at all to push drugs. Any idiot can use a drug calculator and push drugs. The reason you pay good money for their services is to have them there if things go bad. Some Pakistani trained doctor sitting at his computer in Islamabad isn’t going to do you much good if things turn to crap in the OR.
Whole new meaning to blue screen of death?
Great....guess I’ll be out of a job soon. Hope this dosen’t go widespread too soon - I’ve got at least 30 years left to work.
I’d be more concerned about where they stick the needle into my spine than how gosh-darn good they are at automating the drug pushing. I’m sorry you have to be on the spot to do that.
Oh goody. You can outsource healthcare. Aside from shipping patients to India for elective surgery, you can have Indian anesthesiologists (already have radiologists reading images.) Heck you can have Indian surgeons operating remotely and robotically. A little three second lag time shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
All we’ll need is a few local aides to wipe butts and we’re good to go. Healthcare cost containment: accomplished.
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