A new operating theatre at Beaumont Hospital will allow surgeons to “push the envelope” in terms of what they can do, the clinical director in neurosciences at the hospital has said.
Prof Donncha O’Brien, consultant neurosurgeon, said some of the machines in the new digital hybrid theatre, which cost just under €10 million, will be able to facilitate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) over the coming months and years.
The theatre, which came into use over recent weeks at the north Dublin hospital, will be used largely for neuro and vascular surgery but is versatile enough for various surgical procedures.
It has live-streaming technology which allows students and doctors worldwide to observe procedures in real time and a smart AI system to optimise patient scheduling.
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“We can take on more challenging conditions [with the new theatre],” said Prof O’Brien. “I think maybe this is the start of something else, and, more fascinating from a scientific point of view, things like stem cell transplantation, in terms of being able to transplant cells in, will happen in operating theatres like this.”
Prof O’Brien, who has been working in neurosurgery for more than 30 years, said the surgeons and staff at the hospital show “incredible commitment and courage”, which needs to be matched with further infrastructure upgrades. He said there needs to be a “big overhaul” of the hospital’s infrastructure and pointed to a fly infestation in 2023 which led to surgeries being cancelled.
There are about 3,000 neurosurgery cases at the hospital per year, with procedures carried out 24/7 every day of the year.
“Neurosurgeons are heavy users of technology and equipment,” he added. “I think it’s up to the State to keep pace with that and give us the facilities and resources that we need, certainly in terms of beds and theatre access and equipment.
“I think we’re under-resourced here – we need more of those and the general public deserve the optimal and the gold standard of treatment which is available right across the world. I can’t see any reason why Irish people should be second best to that, and all of this is available.”
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