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Telementoring in endocrine surgery: preliminary Indian experience
P V Pradeep1, S K Mishra, S Vaidyanathan
1Department of Endocrine Surgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Summary
Telementoring enabled successful parathyroid tumor removal in India, overcoming previous surgical failures. This telemedicine approach improved patient access to specialized endocrine surgery, particularly valuable in developing nations.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Surgical Oncology
- Medical Informatics
Background:
- Hyperparathyroidism can necessitate complex surgical interventions.
- Recurrent or residual hyperparathyroidism poses significant surgical challenges.
- Access to specialized endocrine surgeons is limited in many regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the successful application of telementoring in a challenging parathyroid tumor excision.
- To demonstrate the efficacy of telemedicine in bridging geographical gaps for specialized surgical care.
- To highlight the potential of telementoring in improving surgical outcomes for complex endocrine cases.
Main Methods:
- A case report detailing a third-time parathyroid exploration for residual hyperparathyroidism.
- Utilized telemedicine technology, specifically a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) link, for real-time audio-video connectivity between two medical centers 2,500 km apart.
- Expert endocrine surgeons provided remote guidance (telementoring) during the surgical procedure.
Main Results:
- Successful localization and removal of the parathyroid tumor were achieved.
- The telementoring session facilitated the surgeon's success despite two prior unsuccessful attempts.
- The patient avoided the need for long-distance travel to a specialized center for surgery.
Conclusions:
- Telementoring is a valuable tool for enhancing surgical expertise and patient care, especially in remote or underserved areas.
- Telemedicine can significantly improve outcomes for complex surgical cases, such as recurrent hyperparathyroidism.
- This case underscores the potential of telemedicine to democratize access to specialized surgical procedures in developing countries.