Medical students acquire knowledge and experience in cardiothoracic surgery

On 24 May practical courses called Insight into Contemporary Cardiothoracic Surgery were held for students of the Faculty of Medicine at the Senate Hall of Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU). The courses are organised by the Cardiac Surgery Centre of Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital (PSCUH) for the second consecutive year in cooperation with the company Johnson & Johnson and the RSU Student Union.

The theoretical part of the course included lectures on topical issues of contemporary cardiac and thoracic surgery and were conducted by Assoc. Prof. Pēteris Stradiņš who is Head of the Cardiac Surgery Centre of PSCUH, and Krista Grigoroviča, a physician at the Lung Centre and Thoracic Surgery Unit of PSCUH. Additionally Sarmīte Koemece, a representative from Johnson & Johnson, demonstrated various types of suture materials.

The theoretical part was followed by practical classes where students had the opportunity to test their skills and try out various surgical techniques. This included performing surgery on a pig’s heart and lungs. In addition cardiothoracic surgery residents demonstrated a wide variety of surgical instruments and devices.

Similarly to last year organisers received a large number of applications. To accommodate for this the number of places was increased, and the courses were even more widely attended. The training was free of charge, and participants received a certificate of attendance.