The Centre for Minimal Access Surgery - teaching for tomorrow

The Centre for Minimal Access Surgery (CMAS) was established as a state-of- the-art multidisciplinary technological education and research centre for m inimal access surgical techniques. Up-to-date training models were obtained to facilitate skill acquisition. Among these were the Minimal Access Thera py trainer and the Body Form Simulator, which provide simulations of the hu man form on which students can practise operative procedures. The CMAS also acquired the MIST Virtual Reality system, a computer program that facilita tes the acquisition of laparoscopy skills. Finally, the CMAS compiled a mul timedia library of resources. While many skills can be gained in these synt hetic and didactic environments, they cannot provide all the preparation ne cessary to practise competently. To facilitate the realtime observation of surgical procedures and the telementoring process, the CMAS has commissione d the development of an integrated videoconferencing system that permits th e high-quality, rapid transfer of multi-feed video and audio data of surgic al procedures from an operating room to the classroom.