Earlier this year, Dr. Bruce McLucas attended the Asia-Pacific Association for Gynecologic Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Therapy in Singapore to help train other gynecologists on how to perform uterine fibroid embolization using new simulation technology that will be available by next year. He also provided hands-on training in Hong Kong using the Vascular Intervention Simulation Trainer, developed by Swedish company Mentice.

Fibroid Embolization is frequently performed by Interventional Radiologists, but Dr. McLucas believes that having gynecologists perform an embolization can greatly benefit women. “A radiologist is someone who comes in and does the procedure; he doesn’t evaluate the patient beforehand and he doesn’t follow up with the patient afterward,” said Dr. McLucas. “The benefit of having a gynecologist perform embolization is that you will have continuity of care.” With the help of the medical simulator, gynecologists should be able to perform the procedure independently within a year.