Streaming from a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy Room: It Is Possible at Low Cost

Abstract

Background and Aims: Before the covid-19 pandemic, medicine was practice and taught almost entirely face-to-face. The new normal, presented us with an opportunity to change the paradigm. Previously, live video transmission was only possible with the use of satellites, that were too expensive to be use regular bases. Now it is possible to broadcast live cases, from anywhere around de world, at a relative low cost. Methodology: This is a descriptive study to show the experience in transmissions of endoscopy live procedures from endoscopy rooms of different centers of Latin America ascribed to the Latin American Training Center (LAGE-TC) adapting virtual transmission technologies for a diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, to broadcast cases in real-time through the internet. Results: From April 2020 to July 31th, 2020 we have made transmissions every week, for each center, being Tuesdays designated for transmissions from Manizales in Colombia from the Union de Cirujanos SAS (Dr Lazaro Arango M), Wednesdays from San Borja Arriaran, in Santiago de Chile (fellows training center of Latin America and from where the LAGE-TC is born) (Drs. Claudio Sergio Navarrete Garcia- Cecilia Castillo T, Carlos Barrientos- Ignacio Robles and Arturo Valle) and from San Juan in Argentina (Dr Marcelo Ponce), on Thursdays from Santa Fe Argentina (Dr. Hugo Imcof), and the Clinica del Norte in Barranquilla - Colombia (Drs. Jesus Rodriguez and Alvaro Jalal). Transmissions have also been made from other centers in Santiago de Chile, Mendoza (Dr Jorge Isaguirre) and Cordoba (Dra Jackelina Gobelet) in Argentina, and in Bucaramanga - Colombia (Dr Eduardo Valdivieso – Fundacion Ildetecsa). 23 live broadcasts of cases from all the named cities in Latin America have been made, almost all from one center and being seen by the other centers already named as initial tests. One of the last meetings was held simultaneously between the Latin American Training Center in Santiago de Chile and the Hospital de San Juan in Argentina. The transmissions were done with good quality of video and sound, at a relative low cost. Conclusion: The study shows in detail different ways in which an endoscopy room can be adapted to perform live broadcasts with elements easy to get and at low cost, with good quality images. The adaptation of this technology will allow live transmission of medical classes, conferences with large audience, consultation form experts on line in other units, cities or countries, to improve medical knowledge and care.