MICS Training Program In Brazil - A Successful Experience
Milton M. Santoro¹, Rodrigo de Souza^2
1 Hospital Pilar, Curitiba – Paraná / BR, ² University of South Florida / Tampa General Hospital / USA

Background

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery has a great demand by patients, providers and institutions due to the outstanding results provided.

The lack of formal training precludes de more wide spread of those techniques among Cardiothoracic surgical community.

There is a role of highly specialized MICS CT surgeons to provide some kind of training in order to help disseminate the knowledge.

Most experienced surgeons can not abandon their current practice for a long term training.

Methods

During one year, 19 leading surgeons from different centers attend to monthly 3-day meetings (weekends)

The meetings were composed by: lectures for scientific background, live patient operations (in the OR and broadcasted), animal simulators practice, technical aspects and bailouts.

Results

After completing the full course and received direct and “in loco” proctor ship, all the surgeons were comfortable on initiating an independent MICS practice.