Training for Heart Surgery at Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven
Cardiologists and heart surgeons from across Europe can now undergo advanced training in heart surgery at the Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven. Thanks to a state-of-the-art simulator, medical professionals can practice intricate heart procedures and acquire the skills needed to address life-threatening complications. This training ensures that the surgeon’s proficiency is finely honed before they perform surgeries on actual patients.
Simulation-based education represents the future of healthcare training. Eindhoven has become the pioneering location for medical practitioners to train using a simulator for a range of procedures. These procedures include inserting a new heart valve through a groin catheter, performing angioplasties, placing stents in the coronary arteries of the heart, administering catheter treatments for heart rhythm disorders (ablations), and implanting pacemakers or internal defibrillators.
One of the prominent trainers is Dr. Pim Tonino, an interventional cardiologist at the Catharina Hospital. He emphasizes the significance of this training approach, stating, “It’s highly valuable that we can employ these simulators to refine our skills. The simulations faithfully replicate real surgical scenarios. While it’s true that no two patients or surgeries are identical, many aspects of these procedures remain consistent. These are precisely the skills that can be diligently honed through simulation training before they are applied in actual practice. Equally important is the ability to prepare for and navigate unexpected complications; if a complex situation arises during a real procedure, simulator training instils greater confidence and provides a clear path forward.”
