This week provided rich clinical and research exposure. I shadowed two complex surgical procedures that deepened my understanding of anatomy, surgical innovation, and clinical relevance to biomedical engineering.
I observed a minimally invasive spine surgery to treat lumbar spinal stenosis. When spinal discs and fat build up, it can cause spinal nerve impingements and ultimately lead to paralysis. The nerve impingements need to be relieved by removing the insulting tissues. Using CT imaging for precise localization, surgeons accessed the spine through a series of 2.8 mm metal tubes, removing the lamina with cauterization and suction techniques. The procedure preserved the dura (where the impinged spinal nerves are) and successfully relieved two impingements in just under three hours—with only a small scar after intervention. Attached is a protocol if you would like to learn more:
https://surgeryreference.aofoundation.org/spine/degenerative/lumbar/spinal-stenosis/miss-transforaminal-lumbar-interbody-fusion#introduction
I also shadowed a robot-driven prostate removal surgery through Anuj's clinical mentor, Dr. Scherr, utilizing the da Vinci robot system. This robot system has 2 "driver's seats" that are placed near the side of the room, which allows a medical student to perform surgery while the clinician directs them. Four metal rods were used to pierce the patient's upper stomach, and carbon dioxide was used to inflate the stomach so that the surgeon can view the patient's internal organs. The bladder was partially resected to access the prostate, which was excised while preserving fluid pathways to maintain post-operative urinary function.
Finally, I continued to plan my experiments for the summer, aligning surgical insights with translational research goals.
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