01 Jan 2012
By: Sheralyn Tay
During vascular surgery, a thin wire snakes through a blood vessel, works its way towards the dark mass – a clot of hardened plaque that narrows the vessel and limits blood flow – and, very precisely, begins to clear the obstruction. This exacting procedure, and many like it, requires a confident hand. But thanks to a new simulation training programme at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), surgeons can now train in a risk-free environment to hone their skills and gain experience.
The simulation training programme for vascular surgeons – named the Alexandre Chao Endovascular Simulation-Training Platform, in memory of the late vascular surgeon who succumbed to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 – is one of six surgical training platforms at the SGH Surgical Skills Centre (SSC). The others train doctors in the surgical areas of critical care, endoscopy, general surgical skills, laparoscopy and musculoskeletal surgery.
“In the past we trained for surgery using the classic approach of 'see one, do one, teach one'. You see someone do a case, then you do the next case that comes along and can start teaching by the third case,” said Dr Benjamin Chua, Consultant, and Director, Endovascular Surgery, Department of General Surgery, SGH.
“With the advancements in medical complexity, rising expectations and a greater awareness of patient outcomes and accountability, this is not an ideal approach. Training with simulators gets doctors familiar with the systems and the processes, so they can practice until the routine becomes second nature.”
The simulators closely replicate real medical scenarios such as blocked or weakened veins, and can be customised to simulate a range of complexities and challenges. During the training programme, participants also attend lectures and sit in on real surgical cases.
Thirty-five doctors from Singapore and the region participated in the first endovascular simulation-training programme last November. One of the participants was Dr Tay Hsien Ts’ung, Registrar, Department of General Surgery, SGH, who noted the value of learning through experience. “You get hands-on practice on how to manipulate the wires and instruments, but you are training outside the patient’s body, so there is no risk of complications,” Dr Tay said.
The SGH Surgical Skills Centre aims to be a regionally recognised training centre for surgical skills, offering a multidisciplinary, structured and comprehensive curriculum in a dedicated, state-of-the-art training facility.
A tribute to Dr Alexandre Chao
More than just a skills-building programme, the Alexandre Chao Endovascular Simulation-Training Platform is also a poignant reminder for the family of the late Dr Alexandre Chao, who succumbed to SARS in 2003.
“Alex always had a passion for medical education. Today, the Alexandre Chao Endovascular Simulation-Training Programme encapsulates his vision and passion,” said Associate Professor Koh Woon Puay, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, who was married to the late Dr Chao.
“My family and I are deeply grateful and we are confident this programme will continue to play a pivotal role in reducing morbidity and mortality related to vascular diseases, and training doctors to preserve and improve health of people in Singapore and beyond,” said Assoc Prof Koh.
For their daughters, Beatrice and Berenice, Dr Chao “passed away when we were very young and our fondest memories of him were those of a devoted father reading to us while we sat on his lap. Today, this programme helps us see his vision towards excellent patient care as a vascular surgeon”.
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