Heartbeat: Live demonstration of pioneering treatment at City Hospital
September 5, 2018
Last month, City Hospital hosted a live workshop of a pioneering treatment for patients undergoing partial breast reconstruction. The workshop, the first of its kind in the UK, attracted consultants and trainees from across the UK and involved lecture sessions, live mark up for surgery and also live in-theatre observation of the procedure being carried out.
Heartbeat spoke to Consultant Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgeon, Geeta Shetty, who organised the workshop.
“City Hospital is one of the centres in the UK who are pioneering in partial breast reconstruction,” said Mrs Shetty.
She added: “Many patients, especially with smaller breasts, who would have been left with marked asymmetry/deformity would benefits from this procedure. It has enhanced the aesthetic results and for some patients have avoided mastectomy.
“The surgery, which uses the chest wall perforator flaps has reduced the overall length of inpatient stay, thus contributing to cost effectiveness. Since the introduction of this service, the standard of care provide by our team in the breast unit has reached the next level.”
Over the past 10 months, the team have been having numerous visits from colleagues from all over the country who were keen to learn the new technique; hence the idea to host a workshop was born.
Mrs Shetty explained more: “The workshop allowed us to share our innovative surgical techniques with consultant colleagues from across the UK which can only benefit breast patients in the future.
“The opportunity to watch a live operation was fantastic for them and the feedback we have received is very positive and encouraging.
“I must thank all of our team in the breast unit, theatre and the radiology department for their willingness to support his course and make it so successful. The course is oversubscribed and is being talked about amongst breast surgeons all over the country.
“Our aim now is to run the workshop regularly and disseminate our knowledge to our fellow breast colleagues.”