Simulation
Every expert was once a novice. Even a naturally gifted artisan will start with the fundamentals. Skills define the elements of a seasoned physician. And it takes years of experience to be acclaimed an expert in ones respective field. It is hard enough to master one's skill in medicine because we deal with human lives. One has to undergo repetitive simulations to develop the intricate eye to hand coordination needed to heal our patients with the cutting edge technologies at our disposal. Our revered "Silent Teachers" provide us inestimable experience of simulating and honing our skills to elevate the bar of "Patient Safety" in our clinical practice.
Doctors from both cutting and non-cutting departments regularly go back to our anatomy lab requesting sessions with our silent teachers. Whether it is meant to personally try a new technique, or experiment a non traditional approach, or perfect their skills, the Anatomy department provide them the platform to build their confidence before they perform delicate procedures on their patients.
Airway is the most important life saving procedure in medicine. When the need arises, the process of providing a patent airway to our patients should come as a second nature to every physician. Fraught with many variables, it often never comes easy under certain conditions. Airway simulation exercises constitute close to fity percent of simulation courses held in the Anatomy department.
Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) is a cost-effective diagnostic technology that, with training, is accessible, portable, and a convenient diagnostic modality to complement physical assessments. It is now being used by numerous specialties as a bedside modality in treating their patients. With ultrasound, needling procedures allow us to deliver medications to different parts of the body. Our Silent Teachers allow us to practice these skills set to perfection.
Cosmetic procedures are never simple. Mastery of the facial anatomy is important to arrive at the desired and expected results. The Department of Dermatology has been in the forefront of providing evidenced based procedures using the facility of the Anatomy department.
The female mammaries organs serve a very important aspect not just in nurturing life but also providing females an important aspect of body-image. Critical oncoplastic procedures have evolved to preserve this important organ gland system. Anatomic planning is important in carrying out such procedures.
Extremity sparing procedures are critical in saving the functions of the upper and lower extremities. The department of orthopedics have been using Silent Teachers in carefully plotting the safe anatomical corridors where transfixation pins can best provide stability for external fixation constructs for trauma and limb reconstruction procedures.
The department of rehabilitation medicine plays a traiblazing role in the promotion of musculoskeletal ultrasound in the country.
Our Silent Teachers provide them the best haptic experience in carrying out their injection procedures to provide pain relief for many joint problems of the human body.
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Arthroscopy involves using fine endoscopes that can only be simulated with our soft silent teachers where procedures and maneuvers are best simulated. Arthroscopy is likewise simulated in prone, sitting, and lateral positions in the very same manner it is done in real surgeries.
The ultimate in minimally invasive surgery of the spine is Uniportal Endoscopic Spine Suregery. Endoscopic surgery of the spine remains to be one procedure that entails a steep learning curve to master. Our Silent Teachers provide that rare opportunity to be able to simulate the
procedures and experience working around the delicate neural element of the spinal cord and nerves within the spinal column
The base of the skull is classically considered as a No-Man's land. However, with Full Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, ENT and Neurosurgeon tandems are now able to to perform skull base surgery in a minimally invasive fashion with the use of endoscopes. Collaborative simulation between subspecialties enable us to perform procedures that were classically very difficult if not impossible to do before. This simulation courses truly provides patient safety in the real world of surgery.
Immediate and minimally invasive fixation of pelvic trauma has proven to be a life saving procedure. Procedures involved are technically demanding and requires very precise placement of screw fixation to stabilize the complex architecture of the pelvis. Simulation courses are very important to learn and master these techniques.
Anterior approach to the lumbar spine via the small corridor between the psoas muscle and the great aortic and vena cava vessels provide very good fixation and fusion footprint to all levels of the lumbar vertebrae. A retroperitoneal approach needs to be simulated to provide spine surgeons familiarity with this not so usual approach.
Open procedures are likewise simulated to try new technologies in abdominal surgery repair and hemostatic control. Clinicians develop the confidence in using these life saving equipment before they even do it on live surgeries. The experience they gain in simulation procedures like these translates into “Patient Safety.”
The Dualan Laboratory can host a large volume of clinicians who desire to simulate clinical procedures. This ASEAN Airway Course catered to close to a hundred participants locally and the ASEAN countries. Difficult airway procedures have been simulated on our soft cadavers to mimic real life and clinical situations.
Many foreign visitors who participated in our simulation courses appreciate the charm of Calderon Hall. The hallowed corridors of our building and our anatomy laboratory emanate a sense of tradition and excellence where generations of doctors have treaded in embarking their career as healers of man, and where they come back in their yearning to improve on their mastery of the art and science of medicine.
