World's First Remote Heart Operation a Success
World's First Remote Heart Operation a Success
Posted 05/05/2010 at 4:43am
| by Paul Lilly
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Kenneth Crocker is in the books as the first person ever to undergo remote heart surgery, which was performed at the Glenfield Hospital in Leicestershire to correct an irregular heartbeat, UK's Daily Mail reports.
A 3-foot robotic arm shoved a thin surgical tube into the 70-year-old patient's body while the surgeon sat in a separate room controlling the delicate procedure with a remote control, steering the tube through a vein into the heart. By performing the procedure remotely, the surgeon was isolated from dangerous levels of radiation from the more than 250 X-rays to monitor the location of the probe for up to eight hours.
"I've been very excited about the operation for weeks," Crocker explained. "It's a little bit of extra magic being the first in the world. I tried cardioversion, which is electric shock therapy, and different medicines to get rid of the problem but so far nothing has worked. I've seen the robotic arm and it's an impressive piece of kit. I'd like to shake hands with it after when I'm cured but maybe that won’t be possible."
Given the success of the surgery, Dr. Ng, the surgeon who performed the operation, said the technique could be used to treat up to 50,000 Britons diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat each year, potentially reducing strokes and heart failure.
Image Credit: inhabitat.com
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Zazubovich
May 05, 2010 at 12:33pm
J Frank Parnell explains radiation from x rays.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VKzqAefBVY
Keith E. Whisman
May 05, 2010 at 11:18am
Isn't that the same operating room where they built Steve Austin the Bionic Man? The Six Million Dollar Man? Sure does look like it. And really for what they got out of Steve Austin Six Million Dollars was pretty cheap.
Peanut Fox
May 05, 2010 at 10:12am
Everything is fine sir. I'll be one hundred percent safe behind this lead wall. You can breath easier knowing that I'm okay. You ready?
pbalstar
May 05, 2010 at 1:52pm
Instead of the doctor getting 250 xrays a day, because its his job, now he gets none. You would have to take a few thousand xrays for it to do anything.
Silver925
May 05, 2010 at 9:28am
1) The patient (Hopefully) will undergo the proceedure once, and be exposed to the radiation once. The surgeon may need to do the proceedure many many times during their career, and thus be exposed many many times.
2) Do you save the patient today, with the possibility that a side effect from the process might make them sick later. Or do you let the patient have guarenteed health problems by avoiding the proceedure, based on what might happend as a side effect.
Also, I'm sure the patient must have the risks explained, and sign a waver.
It's amazing any-which-way to see a delicate proceedure like this being done remotely. This can/will open the door for surgeons being able to offer their skills over vast distances. With the right equipment, geography no longer matters. Amazing.
Pyrophorics
May 05, 2010 at 9:39am
The concept is amazing however can you imagine the bills and health coverage changes?
You will probably end up having to pay for all the standard services as if the procedure was performed locally but add on the enormous cost of the equipment and probably additional fees because technically two hospitals are working to save your life.
I would think that because of the cost, not every hospital would have a machine like this. At best probably two per state so travel expenses would still be incurred.
The best part is technically you are paying a doctor to play a video game.
omen3330
May 11, 2010 at 12:56pm
I think the good old fashion saw is stil going to be predominat but think of it, if a doctor is better qualified somewhere else then the hospital just rings him/her up and they get to work withou delay.
Velcrow
May 05, 2010 at 5:53am
"the surgeon was isolated from dangerous levels of radiation from the more than 250 X-rays to monitor the location of the probe for up to eight hours."
I guess we're to assume the patient is properly guarded except for the area of the surgery? Even so, it seems the area being observed would be exposed to the 'dangerous' levels of radiation. Could we see potential side effects down the line? Particularly from younger patients? Just a thought.
somethingelse
May 05, 2010 at 8:57am
Yea, that line had me thinking the same thing...
what signature, where do i sign?
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