Surgeons to participate in Methodist Hospital's Pumps & Pipes symposia

Surgeons from The Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center along with scientists and engineers from two of the nation's largest industries - medicine and energy will take part in the first international Pumps & Pipes symposia in Doha, Qatar on April 28 to explore the synergies in moving oil and pumping blood.

As part of the conference, cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Mahesh Ramchandani will perform a live cardiac surgery case from The Methodist Hospital's new hybrid suite that will be seen in Qatar. 

Much like moving oil through a pipeline, the heart must pump blood through the body. Both systems need clean, well-functioning pipes (or blood vessels), free of blockages or corrosion, to function efficiently. Both industries also are crucial to our nation's economy and future.

Sponsored by the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, ExxonMobil and the Qatar Science & Technology Park, the Pumps & Pipes conference will focus on surgical robotics.

"We are very excited about this first international Pumps & Pipes conference," said Dr. Alan Lumsden, co-program director of Pumps & Pipes and medical director of the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center. "We have begun to see more than new ideas coming out of each conference and we hope to find new and innovative ideas we can begin testing further."

Source: The Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center