HYDERABAD: In a first-of-its kind initiative, live surgical procedures being performed at Apollo, KIMS and Citizens Specialty hospitals were streamed in a 360 degree video format to audiences on the final day of the Advanced Cardiovascular Solutions India – FACTS (fraternity of advanced cardiovascular techniques and solutions) Conference, on Saturday.
A first for FACTS, panoramic live-streaming is being touted as the future given that virtual reality headsets and technology will become more proliferated, doctors at the venue said.
“This is the first time the medical fraternity in India has used a 360 degree video of live surgeries being performed, for educational purposes. The immediate advantage of using these videos over a more traditional, twodimensional educational video is that one gets the feel of being in the same room as the operating doctors. Also, recording such a 360 degree video only requires a single camera in the room, thus adding to the logistical advantages of this method. Even machines used in surgical procedures can be zoomed in on, to get a better view,” said Dr Srinivas Kumar, Interventional Cardiologist at the Citizens CATH Lab, which is working in tandem Doctravision, a company focusing on providing immersive live streaming solutions for medical conferences all over South East Asia.
Panoramic viewing allows for the observation of multiple operations in one frame. The operator doctor will be fitted with a mic and a receiver in order to make the process interactive.
Experts and doctors gathered at the eighth edition of FACTS also discussed the rise of cardiovascular diseases in the country. “While incorporating cutting edge technologies into surgical procedures and education was the main focus of the conference, we also held discussions on cardiovascular diseases, which are growing by leaps and bounds,” said Kumar.
