Maha: BYL Nair hospital first in state to get dedicated cadaver laboratory

Mumbai: In a bid to help junior doctors gain an understanding of human anatomy, the oldest hospital in Maharashtra - BYL Nair Hospital in Mumbai has declared to set up a dedicated cadaver laboratory for the first time in the state. 

The lab will offer young surgeons an opportunity to enhance their skills at an affordable rate. The training course at the hospital would cost only Rs 12,000 and the practice on the cadavers at the lab will reduce possible errors that can be avoided in the actual practice.

The first training session will train 24 doctors for nose and jaw surgeries and the lab with 10 operating tables including state-of-the-art equipment will start functioning on January 27. It will help young doctors learn surgery in three steps- cadaver training, mentorship, and operating under the supervision of a senior.

Similarly, the hospital is also promoting cadaver body donation to prevent any further shortage of cadavers in the hospital.

Also read- Medical Colleges In Mangaluru Resume Accepting Cadavers

Dr Uday Bhat, head of the plastic surgery department, spearheading the committee managing the cadaver lab told HT, “It has an actual OT set-up with state-of-art OT tables, OT lights, instruments, and operating microscopes. We have such a set-up in the private medical colleges and doctors have to pay hefty fees to operate on cadaver bodies to get trained in these labs. The laboratory has a storage facility for 20 bodies that will be kept at -24 degrees Celsius.”

“The deep freeze facility with a temperature as low as -24 degrees Celsius helps to keep the tissues fresh. 24 hours before the surgery, the body will be kept in another storage facility at -4 degree Celsius. This will ensure the body remains fresh and gives the feel of an actual operation,” explained Dr Bhat.

“Each body will be used optimally. The lab will be used by all branches of medical science. Learning and practising the procedure thoroughly at this lab, before the actual operation, will help hone the surgical skills of both trainee doctors as well as practising surgeons alike,” said Dr Bhat.

“At present, young doctors observe their seniors doing the surgeries. With the help of this lab, young doctors can dissect the cadaver bodies themselves and avoid the risk of complications while performing actual surgeries,” he said.

“So far, the training was done in animal labs where pigs are used. The organs of a pig and its anatomy are closer to human anatomy. Getting a human cadaver involves legal issues apart from preserving it properly; therefore, you need a dedicated programme to handle them. I am glad the state finally has one in Nair Hospital,” said Dr Sanjay Borude, a well-known bariatric surgeon.

Dr Niranjan Agarwal, immediate past-president of Mumbai Surgical Society said “Training on a cadaver helps in better understanding of the anatomy. The lab will surely help in improving the confidence of the young surgeon along with skill enhancement,” he said.

Also read- Cadaveric Workshop On Cosmetic Surgery At AIIMS