Monthly Archives: April 2016

Imagination meets reality

Written by Lauren Murphy, SIU School of MedicineHystrctmy_1078CMYK
It looks like something out of a science fiction film: a three-armed, six-foot tall, 1,400 pound robot with three-dimensional vision, forceps, needle drivers and cautery instruments that act as hands. Capable of performing delicate, extraordinarily precise procedures deep within the body using miniature instruments and 10 times magnification, the da Vinci ® Surgical System is the next generation of minimally invasive surgery. The robotic surgery platform is where imagination meets reality.
Robotic surgeries are becoming the norm in many specialties. As more research became available, surgeons in urology, gynecology and other divisions have found its benefits. While cardiology was once the premier specialty for using the robot, today, more than 80% of robotic surgeries are urological or gynecological, according to SIU urologist Dr. Bradley Schwartz.
While it is called a “robot,” it’s not an independent machine – it requires the finesse of a skilled surgeon. (Read more here about how SIU trains surgeons in robotic surgery skills.)The surgeon sits at a console approximately three feet from the patient where s/he can see inside the patient by way of a camera using 3-D imaging. Directly below the console’s viewfinder are thumb, index and middle finger controls that enable the surgeon to transcend human physical limits by providing a greater range of motion and more precision and stability. The controls move the robotic surgical tools set inside the patient.
While the benefits of robotic surgery to patients abound – less blood loss, the potential for a faster recovery and the need for fewer pain medications – the robot isn’t always the best choice. “For urology and gynecological oncology, the proof of benefit is there – patients leave with better outcomes and it’s smart from an economic standpoint. But for benign gynecology and other procedures, we’re still teasing out the best uses for the robot,” explains SIU gynecologist Dr. Erica Nelson.
At hospitals throughout central and southern Illinois, the da Vinci® Surgical System is available to SIU surgeons. Springfield is home to several surgical robots. Locally, SIU surgeons perform procedures in gynecology, gynecologic oncology, urology, colorectal surgery and general surgery. At Memorial, SIU School of Medicine surgeons also perform ear, nose and throat robotic surgeries.
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

Make believe makes better health care

Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of MedicineAAA_0002
While the days of studying from a book or taking notes during a lecture are not extinct, modern medical education encompasses many new avenues of learning. With the recent opening of the Memorial Center for Learning and Innovation, educators and learners (medical students, residents, nurses, technicians, etc.) are greatly benefitting from simulated events.
Medical simulations have the potential to better health care delivery and improve patient safety for patients in our area. “The MCLI allows us to take the skills we use to provide care for patients, practice them, streamline the process and make care more efficient and at a higher level for when it really matters – when we’re taking care of an actual patient,” says SIU emergency medicine physician Dr. Christopher McDowell.
Simulations can address the entire spectrum of care for the best learning experience for all the teams. Planners can create any scenario needed to train or test protocols to treat specific diagnoses. In most simulations, the majority of participants have no knowledge of the events that will unfold. Health care teams treat the patient, who is either a trained actor or a simulated mannequin, as they would in real life.
AAA_0005“This is a paradigm shift in how we make health care safer and better: We can now evaluate skills and fix errors prospectively, before they affect a real patient,” Dr. Sapan Desai says.
Dr. Desai recently spearheaded a groundbreaking simulation at the MCLI, in which a patient collapsed in the faux living room. He called 911 and sent a series of events in motion that led to the diagnosis and treatment of a normally fatal situation. Read more here.
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

 

It’s patio season

alcohol awarenessWritten by Rebecca Budde
And it’s alcohol awareness month.
Coincidence?
Nope: The warmer weather means backyard BBQs and often booze. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a higher volume of people are on the roads, including a higher number of intoxicated drivers. The result: almost twice as many deaths in the summer months caused by drunk driving compared the rest of the months combined. The time from Memorial Day to Labor Day is known as the 100 Deadliest Days for teen drivers.
But I’m not a teenager!
egardless of your age, when it’s hot outside, our bodies become dehydrated more quickly. Drinking alcohol while dehydrated leads to a higher blood alcohol concentration. Studies also show that a higher blood alcohol concentration leads to a greater risk of injury from a traffic accident, and the injuries will be more significant too.
But I still want to have a drink or two when I’m out.
SIU substance abuse counselor and psychotherapist Ron Kanwischer offers these tips to stay safe:

  • Before an event where alcohol will be served, decide who will be the designated driver.
  • Ask your friends for their keys if you feel that they are too impaired to drive or offer them a ride if you have a designated driver.
  • If you host a party, have plenty of food available, offer non-alcoholic drinks and water.
  • Call a taxi if you’re unsure of your/your driver’s ability to drive safely. If you are hosting, have a cab company’s number readily available.
  • If you’re a parent, talk to your children early and often about that dangers of drinking, and the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol.

If you have a drinking problem, see your mental health or primary care provider. To schedule an appointment with one of SIU’s primary care physicians or psychologists, call 545-8000.
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

Celebrating the art of medicine

Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine
Medicine can sustain life, but the arts make life worth living.SCOPE COVER 2016
SCOPE is the annual literary arts magazine of SIU School of Medicine. It reflects the ideology of SIU School of Medicine as a caring institution with creative, compassionate individuals. We’re training caring, thoughtful physicians who understand not just the physical needs of the patient, but also the emotional and spiritual components of a healthy life.
This year’s magazine features more than 40 short stories, poems and artwork submitted by students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the School.
First published in 1994, SCOPE is produced each year by an ever-changing group of medical students who volunteer to coordinate the magazine. With dozens of entries submitted every year in poetry, prose and artwork, SCOPE exemplifies the artistic and creative energy of the SIU School of Medicine community.
Scope sheaAll SCOPE editions, including the new edition, are posted online. If you would like a copy of the printed book, contact Rebecca Budde, SIU Public Affairs, 217-545-2151 weekdays or rbudde@siumed.edu. Submissions for the 2017 edition of SCOPE will be accepted October – January 2017.
Celebrate your spirit with SCOPE!
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

 

Hope for hearing loss

Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of MedicineCox
Hearing loss is the third most common health problem in the U.S., and approximately 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from tinnitus, a persistent ringing in the ears. There’s a strong likelihood you or someone you love might be one of them.
So how do we lose our hearing?
Hearing loss is primarily caused by the death of sound-sensing cells (called hair cells) found in the inner ear. These cells can naturally regenerate in birds, frogs and fish, allowing recovery of hearing. But until recently, hair cells were not thought to regenerate in mammals. Dr. Brandon Cox, a scientist at SIU School of Medicine, discovered their ability to regenerate in newborn mice and is hoping to use this groundbreaking finding to one day help millions regain their hearing.
Unfortunately, no FDA-approved drugs are available to treat hearing loss or tinnitus. The current treatment strategy for these conditions is hearing aids or cochlear implants. While they provide some benefit, they do not restore normal hearing. Thus, more research is needed.
Dr. Cox’s long-term goal is to develop new treatment strategies to replace the damaged cells and restore hearing. She has secured a three-year grant from the U.S. Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, a division of the Department of Defense, to advance her study of hearing loss and regeneration of sound-sensing cells in the inner ear.
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

The making of a specialist

Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of MedicineAspects
It’s a long road to become a doctor – four years of college, four years of medical school, and more years of post-graduate training.
But some days, it’s all worthwhile.
One of those days is Match Day – the day where senior medical students learn where they will do their post-graduate training, called residency.
During the last year of medical school, the students travel to various medical program locations, interview and learn about their training options. The programs and students rank each other, and the National Residency Matching Program “matches” them up. In May the new doctors will graduate and then begin their residencies in July.
For the next three to eight years the doctors will learn the ins and outs of their specialties. Some will complete fellowships, which involve even more specialized trainings. Bottom line: consider yourself lucky if your doctor is training a resident or fellow. These professionals have fresh minds and are eager to provide you with the best possible health care.
See a photo gallery of the SIU School of Medicine Match Day.
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois