The Operating Theatre Journal - Journal - Page 3
SEPTEMBER
2020
May2020
2023
SEPTEMBER
SEPTEMBER 2020
THETHE
THE
ISSUE
NO.
360
ISSUE
NO.
392
ISSUE
NO.
360
ISSUE NO. 360
ISSN
0000-000X
ISSN
1747-728X
ISSN
0000-000X
ISSN 0000-000X
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Inside this issue
Reducing mortality in emergency
surgery
P2
AI set to revolutionise organ transplants
A new method to assess the quality of organs for donation is set to revolutionise the transplant system. It
could help save lives and tens of millions of pounds.
The NIHR is contributing over £1 million in funding to develop the new technology, which is known as Organ
Quality Assessment (OrQA). It works in the same way as Artificial Intelligence-based facial recognition to
evaluate the quality of an organ.
It is estimated the technology could result in up to 200 more patients receiving kidney transplants and 100
more receiving liver transplants a year in the UK.
AI set to revolutionise
organ transplants
P3
Handwashing during ‘normal times’
can reduce burden of respiratory
P4
disease
Are decontamination professionals
in the UK underpaid?
P8
Majority of NHS Trusts do not
offer training to prevent sexual
harassment
P10
“The software we have developed ‘scores’ the quality of the organ and aims to support surgeons to assess
if the organ is healthy enough to be transplanted.
Surgeons Working On Frugal
Innovations To Decrease
Surgery Costs
P13
“Our ultimate hope is that OrQA will result in more patients receiving life-saving transplants and enable
them to lead healthier, longer lives.”
The Surgical Education
Checklist
Colin Wilson, transplant surgeon at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and co-lead of
the project, said: “Transplantation is the best treatment for patients with organ failure, but unfortunately
some organs can’t be used due to concerns they won’t function properly once transplanted.
How OrQA works
Professor Hassan Ugail, Director of the Centre for Visual Computing at the University of Bradford, whose
team is working on image analysis as part of the research,said: “Currently, when an organ becomes
available, it is assessed by a surgical team by sight, which means, occasionally, organs will be deemed not
suitable for transplant.
“We are developing a deep machine learning algorithm which will be trained using thousands of images of
human organs to assess images of donor organs more effectively than what the human eye can see.
“This will ultimately mean a surgeon could take a photo of the donated organ, upload it to OrQA and get
an immediate answer as to how best to use the donated organ.”
There are currently nearly 7,000 patients awaiting organ transplant in the UK. An organ can only survive
out of the body for a limited time. In most cases, only one journey from the donor hospital to the recipient
hospital is possible. This means it is essential that the right decision is made quickly.
Support for OrQA
The project is being supported by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), Quality in Organ Donation biobank
and an NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit to deliver research for the NHS. It also involves academics
from the Universities of Oxford and New South Wales.
Professor Derek Manas, Medical Director of NHSBT Organ Donation and Transplantation said: “This is
an exciting development in technological infrastructure that, once validated, will enable surgeons and
transplant clinicians to make more informed decisions about organ usage and help to close the gap
between those patients waiting for and those receiving lifesaving organs. We at NHSBT are extremely
committed to making this exciting venture a success.”
Health Minister Neil O’Brien said: “Technology has the ability to revolutionise the way we care for people
and this cutting edge technology will improve organ transplant services. Developed here in the UK, this
pioneering new method could save hundreds of lives and ensure the best use of donated organs.
“I encourage everyone to register their organ donation decision. Share it with your family so your loved
ones can follow your wishes and hopefully save others.”
Chief Executive of the NIHR, Professor Lucy Chappell, said: “Funded by our Invention for Innovation
Programme, this deep machine learning algorithm aims to increase the number of liver and kidney donor
organs suitable for transplantation. This is another example of how AI can enhance our healthcare system
and make it more efficient. Once clinically validated and tested, cutting edge technology such as this holds
the real promise of saving and improving lives.”
‘Proof of concept’ work has been carried out in liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation as well as at an
advanced stage of pre-clinical testing in liver and kidney.
It is hoped the OrQA software will be ready for a licensing study within the NHS within two years.
There is also the possibility of marketing the tool worldwide.
Find out more 02921 680068 • e-mail admin@lawrand.com
Issue 392
P14-15
Vall d’Hebron achieves the first
fully robotic lung transplant
with a new access route
P16-17
Professor James Catto receives
‘Life Time Achievement Award’
for bladder and prostate
cancer research
P20
Endovascular treatment more
likely to avoid amputation or
death for limb-threatening
artery disease
P21
Double honours for innovative
AI technology which speeds
up heart diagnosis
P23
One-stage hip revisions are
as good as 2-stage
P24
Sciatica surgery pain relief
benefits short-lived
P25
The Infection Prevention Society
(IPS) is delighted to welcome
Prof. Sir Jonathan Van-Tam
P27
Every Body Has A Medical
History
P29
Groundbreaking clinical trial
gives lab-grown red blood cells
to people for the first time
P31
Most people undergoing planned
surgery do not need compression
stockings
P32
A plaster cast can safely and
cost-effectively treat a
broken wrist
May 2023
3
P34