Center of Excellence: Division of Urology, Sant’ Andrea Hospital & Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, School of Health Sciences, ‘La Sapienza’ University of Rome
City: Rome, Italy
Director: Prof. A Tubaro
Visit Dates: 11-18/11/2012
Trainees: Urania Vergetaki (Iraklio, Crete)
Sotiris Koukos (Veria)
What the Trainees said
Description and Evaluation of the Center
During the period 11th-18th November 2012, I participated in Educational Program Urotour 2012 and had the opportunity to visit and attend the activities of the Urology Department of Ospedale Sant’ Andrea in Rome directed by Professor Andrea Tubaro. The Department trains 10 Residents and holds 16 beds allocated in double rooms. Surgical procedures -covering the entire spectrum of Urology- are performed three times a week. At the same time -on a daily basis- there are Regular Clinics in which urodynamic studies and prostate biopsies are carried out. Extracorporeal Lithotripsy sessions are conducted In the very well-organized and fully equipped Extracorporeal Lithotripsy Unit. We also had the opportunity to visit the Urology Clinic of I Policlinico in Rome, attend theoretical laparascopic courses with simultaneous video projection and participate in the scheduled surgeries (e.g. HoLEP Prostatectomies). We had the honor to meet Professor Giorgio Franco, who is worldwide renowned as an Expert in Microsurgery of the Male Reproductive Tract and had the unique opportunity to attend one such procedure. The state-of-the art equipment and facilities in both hospitals, the excellent scientific training of Urologists -both academic and non academic- and the sufficient number of staff members compose groups competent to provide high quality health services.
Description and Evaluation of the Center
UroTour provided me the opportunity to visit the 2nd University Clinic of "La Sapienza" University of Rome, located in the outskirts of Rome. It occupies half of the 8th floor of a very large and modern building and also a big part of the ground floor and basement of the Hospital. The medical staff is composed of Director Professor A. Tubaro, 4 Academic Physicians, 5 Public Health Physicians and 10 Residents. The Center has 16 beds allocated in double rooms and 4-bed brachytherapy rooms. There are 2 perfectly equipped operation rooms where surgical procedures are performed on a daily basis, 1 Uro-radiological room for Extracorporeal Lithotripsies, Ultrasounds, Flluoroscopy, insertion-removal of Ureteric Stents -either with or without the assistance of an Anaesthesiologist-Anaesthesiological Apparatus.The three Units of Neurourology, Classical Urology, Prostate Biopsy-Urooncology operate daily in the morning with regular visits, while every evening the same Units medical revisions and special cases. The Units of Andrology and Lithiasis operate three times a week. Surgical procedures cover the entire spectrum of Urology -from radical open to laparoscopic, transurethral, endourological, percutaneous, minimally invasive, reconstructive and andrological procedures. When we were there, the Clinic was expecting the arrival of a DaVinci 4 Robot, for which a group of Physicians had been specially trained. The use of laser (Green, YANG, Holmium) is part of their daily medical practice. In addition, Professor Tubaro took the initiative to arrange for us a two-day visit to the 1st University Urology Department of "La Sapienza" University of Rome, which is accommodated in the old Hospital “Policlinico di Roma Uberto I” in the center of Rome. There we were welcomed by the Director, Professor C. De Dominicis, who had already scheduled three HoLEP prostatectomies (for which we had kindly asked for). Professor G. Franco was the Head of the Andrology Department who, after my special request, arranged for us in the evening to attend microinvasive procedures of the male reproductive tract in a private clinic he collaborates with. I was really impressed by the state-of-the art equipment, education/training of the paramedical staff, flawless computerized organization through which one is able to have access from every terminal of the Hospital to the patients' file, laboratory and imaging examination results, and send references and instructions. Once a week, an Oncology Council takes place with the participationof Urologists, Oncologists and Radiotherapists to discuss in common oncological urological cases. Their hospitality was typical of a Meditteranean country. It is worth mentioning in particular our warm welcoming by Dott. Cosimo De Nunzio, Prof. Tubaro's close collaborator, who was responsible for the overall program and transport of ours, always making sure to fulfill our desires and answer our querries about the Department. When having dinner with Prof. Tubaro and his wife, I was really impressed by his simplicity, openness and unique personality. It is worth mentioning the Research Activity of Professor Tubaro's Department (9 research protocols were running at the same time!!!!!!!!) and the Residents' Training Program -Professor Tubaro arranges for all Residents to visit for at least one year a Urology Clinic abroad, preferrably in the U.S.A.
Closing, I would like to say that the organization of the trip, the welcoming and hospitality we received, were all excellent. Our treatment by the Professor himself and medical staff were one-of-a kind! The experiences we have gained from our short time there were highly beneficial. The Urology Division we have visited is indeed a Urology Reference Center for it covers all aspects of Modern Urology. The major benefit -which I believe is the ultimate aim of such a Program- was that I was invited by Prof. Tubaro and Prof. Franco to visit again their Center this summer for a longer period, so as to be able to get involved more actively in the domain I am particularly interested in.
