Ray Rajotte Surgical Medical Research Institute

The Institute offers courses in Aseptic Techniques and Basic Surgical Skills.

MILESTONES

In 2016, the University of Alberta celebrated the 60th anniversary of Canada's first successful open heart surgery - the RRSMRI enabled Dr. John Callaghan to do this. The institute is where renowned surgeons have taken breakthrough techniques, technology and world-leading surgery to the next level over the following decades.

FACILITIES and EQUIPMENT

The RRSMRI has new equipment such as electric lift and heated maneuverable operating room (OR) tables, new OR lights, anesthetic machines, vital sign monitors , I.V. pumps, laparoscopic equipment, sterilizers, a mobile C-arm X-ray system, harmonic scalpels, and electro cautery and many other pieces of equipment to be available for surgery. All operating rooms are equipped with HEPA filters and meet the guidelines in air quality for recovery surgeries.

One of the OR's has lead lined walls and houses a fluoroscope (C-arm) x-ray unit that can be used by an investigator for their research.

A large acute operating room is also available that is capable of accommodating up to six operating tables/stations and allows for various teaching laboratories and training workshops.

The RRSMRI has an Minimal Invasive Surgery (MIS) operating room that can used for teaching laparoscopic and/or open surgery that may require teleconferencing to our conference room or to anywhere in the world. This suite can hold up to 2 operating stations and is complete with a camera in one of the operating room lights and laparoscopic camera that can transmit images and sound from this room to anywhere in the world with similar technology.

In addition to the above-mentioned operating rooms, the RRSMRI has four additional operating rooms equipped with anesthetic machines and apparatus. Each pair of operating rooms has a shared anteroom with sink and space for preparation for surgery. Each anteroom area has a small separate room for short-term recovery.

Another unique feature that the RRSMRI has is a Microvascular Surgery laboratory. Dr. Lin Fu Zhu has more than 16 years of experience in small bowel, heterotopic heart, kidney and liver transplantation, aortic valve implantation, thymusectomy, subtotal hepatectomy, and carotid artery cannulation. For any physicians or researchers interested in learning microvascular surgery through hands-on teaching, the RRSMRI is where Surgery 555 (a course on microvascular surgery) is held twice a year. More than 300 students, ranging from surgeons to research technicians have been trained in this course.

The facility also offers:
Sterilizing and Supply Room with two steam autoclaves
Diagnostic Biochemistry Laboratory
Conference Room with teleconferencing capability