| Tissue sample moved 37 km in 20 min, mid-surgery, for cancer testing | | |  Agencies
NEW DELHI, Apr 10: As part of the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) trial run, a tissue sample was transported mid-surgery from a peripheral hospital in Karnataka for advanced pathological testing at a tertiary setting to decide if the resected tissue was cancerous.
In continuance with the national mission of expanding the drone ecosystem in the country, the ICMR successfully conducted the trial run of transporting onco-pathological samples by drones under its i-Drone initiative on Wednesday.
The drone efficiently transported intraoperative surgical biospecimens surgically excised from the patient from Dr TMA Pai Hospital, Karkala to Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education Manipal (tertiary care hospital), covering a distance of approximately 37 km in 15-20 minutes, which takes around 50-60 minutes by road, an official statement said.
Upon arrival, the sample was promptly analysed, and the report was electronically conveyed back to the peripheral hospital. Subsequently, the surgeon proceeded with the surgery based on the received report, it said. The trial run as part of a validation study has been undertaken for the first time in the country by the collaborative efforts of ICMR, Kasturba Medical College (KMC) and Dr TMA PAI Rotary Hospital.
Drones play a crucial role in agriculture, defence, disaster relief and healthcare, especially during emergency situations by enabling rapid delivery of vaccines, medications, and vital supplies to remote and inaccessible areas, the statement stated. The ICMR along with Kasturba Medical College is currently conducting a feasibility study in Manipal, Karnataka. The study aims to evaluate the potential use of aerial transportation systems (drones), to transport items such as pathology samples from secondary healthcare facilities to tertiary-level hospitals, the statement said.
Transporting samples for intraoperative decision-making in remote areas hasn't been extensively explored or documented within the Indian context due to limited data on feasibility, utility, and cost-effectiveness. The ongoing research in Manipal aims to address this gap by documenting the procedures for quick transportation of intraoperative samples using drones, the statement said.
This innovative approach could potentially connect secondary care centres with limited resources to tertiary care facilities with advanced diagnostics, facilitating immediate access during surgical procedures. Ultimately, this initiative could streamline complex surgeries, overcoming geographical barriers and improving access to specialized care in peripheral hospitals. |
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