The Lisbon Spine Simulation Course , organized on 5 and 6 May in the Simulation Centre of Hospital da Luz Learning Health , was once again considered a success, both by trainees and surgeon trainers. Just as if they were in the operating theatre, nine specialists and internists in Neurosurgery and Orthopaedics, and six nurses, all duly equipped, have trained minimally invasive techniques in lumbar spine surgery, in highly realistic simulators, under the supervision of Álvaro Lima , Bruno Santiago , Maia Gonçalves and Miguel Casimiro , Hospital da Luz surgeons. “This course resorting to simulation is unique in Portugal, one of the few existing in Europe, and the single one in the whole world including nurses, as far as we know”, highlights Bruno Santiago , the coordinator of this course, now in its second edition. “We were able to replicate the whole setting of the operating theatre, including the most advanced technology presently at our disposal to treat patients, as if it were a real situation”, he adds. Throughout an entire day, and after receiving a briefing on three clinical cases, the trainees “rotated” by three manikins, having the opportunity to train minimally invasive techniques in lumbar spine surgery. The day before, there was a theoretical session, where the techniques to be trained were discussed, with national and international renowned lecturers. Additionally, the nursing professionals attended a specific theoretical session on the required nursing care in minimally invasive surgery. Differences and advantages of simulation training Besides realism, these simulators present the advantage of being able to create operative complications for the trainees to deal with. “There are certain specific complications in spine surgery (such as haemorrhage or dura mater laceration and respective repair), that are recreated here”, explains Bruno Santiago. “Normally, this type of training is done on a corpse, which is great to work the necessary techniques in major surgeries, with large anatomic exposure, but it does not work so well for minimally invasive techniques, which involve working with the nerves and spine discs”, he adds. “These manikins simulate the situations in a way very close to perfection. We can perform all the intraoperative gestures and use the instruments in a realistic way, since the consistency of the tissues is quite similar. The training we normally have stems exclusively from daily practice, with real patients, or a corpse. This is a different training, with no risk for the patient. And there are small tricks and techniques that we, the most experienced, can convey to trainees”, stresses Álvaro Lima , the director of Hospital da Luz Lisboa Spine Centre. Maia Gonçalves , Hospital da Luz Arrábida and Póvoa de Varzim orthopaedist, on its turn, recalls that “when this course was considered, the initial fear was that it would not be possible to replicate accurately the gestures in a surgery and the difficulties that may arise”. “The fact is that it is possible, and in a consistent way. Already in the 2021 edition it was a good surprise, now confirmed.” “This is truly a very realistic experience. Which allows us also to train the complications and the repair of these complications”, reinforces Miguel Casimiro , Hospital da Luz Lisboa and Oeiras neurosurgeon. Hospital da Luz Learning Health thanks all the participants, sponsors and trainers. We will be back in 2023! All those interested in this kind of training may follow up all the activity of Hospital da Luz Learning Health on social media and in the respective course platform ( UpEvents ).
