Always learning new things and lots of new technology in her profession. That’s what surgery assistant Marlene likes best about her job. Vascular surgeon Joost van Herwaarden asked her help to put the new FORS technology into use in the operating room. She didn’t hesitate for a moment. This technology gives the vascular surgeon a 3D color image and significantly reduces X-rays.
When a delegation from UMC Utrecht was in South Africa fifteen years ago to recruit OR staff, surgery assistant Marlene van Zyl decided to come along to the Netherlands. Now she still works in the cardio and vascular surgery team, where she ended up at the time.
Marlene: “I was fortunate to join a very nice team. The vascular surgeons are always willing to teach new things to the OR staff. Furthermore, there is tremendous growth in our field, due to ever new technological developments. That combination of innovations and always learning new things is exactly the reason, where she started at the time.”
“It is my profession to combine technology and care. As surgical assistants, we help the surgeons during operations. We set up the supplies and during surgery we hand the instruments to the surgeon at the right time. In vascular surgery, for example an aneurysm, the surgeon uses guide wires and catheters in the patient’s abdomen. He can only see these with X-rays. Harmful radiation. That’s why we as OR staff must wear radiation-resistant clothing. Those clothes are warm and heavy, which is why many colleagues develop complaints over time.”
In addition to being an operating assistant, Marlene is also a vascular surgery specialist. In that role, she is the first point of contact for the vascular surgeons when problems arise in the OR. She also takes orders for them. “For example, vascular surgeon Joost van Herwaarden came to me five years ago. Philips had been working with specialists at UMC Utrecht to develop a new technology for some time, replacing X-rays with light. Doctor van Herwaarden approached my colleague Paul Bachet and me to make this technology work in the operating room for the operating assistants. I did not hesitate for a moment.”
With the new Fiber Optic RealShape (FORS) technology, the vascular surgeon can now visualize the guidewires and catheters with light instead of X-rays. This allows him to view the guidewires and catheters in real-time in 3D while they are inside the patient’s body, and likely perform surgeries with much less harmful radiation. Marlene: “As a result, we think the operation time will also be reduced, which means we will also have to stand in the operating room with the special clothes for a shorter time. Much nicer for our patients, and for us as staff as well.”
The first period was spent on how to place the equipment in the OR in such a way that it is workable. In between, Philips made adjustments to make it even better. That process took five years. Then the FORS trial could start at the hospital. To teach colleagues how to work with this equipment, a clinical lesson was developed. Such a class is required by law with any new equipment a department puts into use.
“Fortunately, it is not a difficult piece of equipment,” says Marlene. “We were able to brief our colleagues on the day. In total, we assisted the surgeons in the surgery of 21 patients with vasoconstrictions and dilations in abdominal, pelvic and leg arteries. Philips was present in every trial patient, that way we were not alone.”
“For me personally, FORS is a great example of innovation. I have a lot of interest in technology. I really enjoy seeing how technology keeps evolving and how we can use it for patients. That makes me enjoy going to work every day. To be able to do something new and exciting in my profession, and also do something good for our patients. What more could you want?”
