Every year the Unit of Pediatric Surgery directed by Prof. Mario Lima performs over 1800 surgical procedures, about 70% are now minimally invasive. The minimally invasive application technique in child disease or trauma is relatively recent: the small size of organs and tissues in children, in addition to the necessary perfect knowledge by the surgeon had slowed its use. The leap in quality has been provided by the technology , because new micro-cameras (just a microchip) and tiny optic fiber lightning introduced directly in the body of small patient allow a perfect vision of the operative field and then procedures are safer and more precise. The new techniques also avoid large incisions and scars: small holes from trocars will fade out.
The Minimally Invasive Paediatric Surgery Center, the first one in Italy, will provide impulse to the acquisition, improvement and teaching of minimally invasive pediatric surgery thoracoscopic, laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic. Today it is possible to apply minimally invasive techniques for diseases that normally were treated in the traditional manner by pediatric surgeon. In particular: the treatment of oesophageal atresia, with thoracoscopic access, the biliary atresia with laparoscopy, the treatment of urinary malformations by retroperitoneoscopy. These are the last, exceptional successes achieved by pediatric surgery of “Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi” in Bologna.
The Center is an independent structure, located on the fourth floor of the Pediatrics Pediatrics, directly connected by audio and high-definition video with surgery rooms of pediatric block and with all the surgery rooms in the hospital. It is connected via IP videoconferencing, ISDN and Satellite with all other educational centers worldwide. The auditorium can host up to about 30 people ; the tech room is equipped with technologies for distance learning. In this room there is also a videorecording and editing system that allows to create and deliver educational videos both form surgery room and courses.
Last part of the Center is an “exercise room”where there are electronic simulators: You can learn and improve surgical minimally invasive techniques. These instruments were acquired with the contribute of “Scuola di Specializzazione in Chirurgia Generale” directed by Prof. Minni. In addition to normal programming courses, held since 2004, there is a calendar of mini-courses on all the surgical specialties aimed to srtudents in surgical disciplines or specialist surgeon who working in hospitals and who want to acquire the necessary manual techniques.
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