Chennai: Innovative Technological advancements are revolutionising healthcare and medical professionals across the globe are seamlessly adopting it with renewed optimism. It is changing the way medical concepts are being taught, understood and executed. Among these groundbreaking technologies, 3D medical animation has proven to be a game-changer in enhancing the learning experience for students, healthcare professionals, and patients alike.
Animated videos/ surgical recordings help in simplifying the complex subject of congenital heart disease and its treatment. What used to take months and years of observation to master, and practice can now be done by anyone who has access to the videos, in this process the whole process of innovation is accelerated.
Bhaikaka University, Karamsad encourages the faculties/doctors to stimulate these initiatives with technology-rich learning spaces. An interactive learning module featuring 3D medical animations offers an enriched educational experience. Dr Vishal Bhende, Pediatric Cardio Thoracic Surgeon at Bhanubhai & Madhuben Patel Cardiac Centre of Shree Krishna Hospital, Karamsad, (the constituent institution of Bhaikaka University) developed 3D Animated videos/surgical recordings for simplifying the complex subject of congenital heart disease and its treatment. He launched the YouTube channel in November 2021 and broadcast 18 videos. The channel has 1000+ subscribers and 67000 views. It caters to the pediatric cardio-thoracic community.Dr Jitesh Desai, Medical Superintendent at Shree Krishna Hospital, Karamsad said, “It is indeed a wonderful confluence of two highly skilled people in their own wakes- Chirag Anand (Chasing illusions studio) and Dr Vishal Bhende (Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon) only to culminate into a wonderful educative product. This animated preparation of complicated cardiac procedures will certainly enhance the understanding of cardiac surgeons in making as well as the fresh ones in the business.”
Dr Krishnan Ganapathy Subramaniam, collaborator with Dr Bhende, a Senior Cardiac Surgeon and Head, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at Sri Padmavati Pediatric Heart Centre, Tirupati. He said, “The agency named Chasing Illusions Studio headed by Chirag Anand, a Delhi based entrepreneur worked in close tandem with Dr Bhende over the last 2 years. Both of them burnt the midnight oil, to get the concepts right in animation.”
“It was quite an ardent task to explain the cardiac operative concepts by long-distance communication” says Dr Bhende. Chirag adds “Creating 3D medical animations for educational purposes involves overcoming challenges such as accurate anatomical representation, intricate detailing for surgical procedures, ensuring medical accuracy, and maintaining visual clarity. The technical issues often revolve around complex software requirements, data integration for precise simulations, and collaboration between medical experts and animators.
Chirag added, “A successful production requires a meticulous balance between artistic creativity and scientific precision, emphasising the importance of cutting-edge technology and interdisciplinary collaboration in the field of medical animation”.
Dr Bhende`s initiative is also appreciated by Dr Rajesh Sharma, Past President of the Pediatric Cardiac Society of India (PCSI). He expressed that it is indeed a brilliant initiative. The broadcast is very viewer-friendly and easy-to-understand animation of surgical procedures. 3D concepts like the Senning operation that are difficult to grasp by the new surgical entrant are well illustrated.
“This compilation is a great educational tool for students, residents and a ready reckoner for practising surgeons and also to explain patients and relatives of procedure planned for their patients,” said Dr Devagourou V. Junior Vice -President, Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons (IACTS), Professor, AIIMS, New Delhi.
“The 3D animation are in stunning details, explaining complex procedures in a way both medical personnel, medical students and lay people, particularly patients or their care givers can understand,” said Dr K R Balakrishnan, Chairman, Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Director-Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support, MGM Healthcare, Chennai.
“The 3 D animation of different surgical procedures are a treat to the eyes, it not only uses the smart technology to help people understand the concepts and steps of some extremely complex operation but also aids in planning the same for a given patient,” said Dr Smruti Ranjan Mohanty, Senior Consultant, Neonatal and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute, Mumbai.
“A trainee surgeon can grasp the minutiae of the actual surgery as is being performed by his senior surgeon or mentor if he/she has watched the animation video carefully and understood the accompanying commentary,” said Dr PV Suresh, Senior Cardiologist, Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Narayana Health City, Bengaluru.
“Had such videos been available earlier, the procedure could have become popular earlier and could potentially have saved lot of children.” – Dr K M Cherian Chairman & CEO, Frontier Lifeline Private Limited (Dr K M Cherian Heart Foundation), Chennai.
