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A $1m upgrade of equipment at Australia's premier surgical simulation training centre will help to maintain The University of Western Australia's CTEC at the forefront of surgical training in the region.

German surgical instrument manufacturer, Karl Storz Endoscopy, has donated and installed new laparoscopic equipment, surgical instruments and superior quality digital technology.

"CTEC is one of Australia's most modern simulation training centres for doctors and nurses learning popular endoscopic surgery," said UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson.  "This donation will ensure that the Centre maintains its position as one of the best in the world and will benefit greatly medical professionals and consequently the people of Western Australia."

Karl Storz donated much of the original equipment for the purpose built centre, which was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000 and has since trained more than 25,000 health professionals.

"We are delighted that Storz has continued to invest in our centre," said CTEC Director, Professor Jeffrey Hamdorf, Head of School of Surgery.  "This investment validates CTEC's important role in surgical simulation training by ensuring that participants have a sophisticated quality training environment to complement the training programs for surgeons, physicians, nurses and anaesthetists.

Endoscopic (or key-hole) surgery is performed through minor incisions in the abdomen because of the significant patient benefits it provides compared to traditional open surgery.  Patients report less post operative discomfort, minimal bleeding and require shorter hospital stays following endoscopic surgery.  It is used widely in all aspects of surgery and medicine including general surgery, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, gynaecological surgery, urology, cardiothoracics and pulmonology.

Several hundreds of doctors and nurses from across Australia and the Asia Pacific region attend training at CTEC courses annually to learn key surgical skills and advanced cutting edge procedures.  Leading international experts from the US and Europe also teach on CTEC training courses.

CTEC recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary and is a part of the School of Surgery in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.

Tours of the lab for representatives of the media are available by appointment.  Please contact Anna Gee on 0417 180 848.

Media references

Winthrop Professor Jeffrey Hamdorf (CTEC Director)  (+61 4) 19 043 124
Anna Gee (CTEC Marketing)  (+61 8)  6488 8044
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716