D1 - Knowledge and Understanding Students will develop a thorough knowledge of the instruments and technologies used in the operating room. They will acquire the theoretical foundations of the tools and techniques used in analytical laboratories and sterilization centers. By further studying the techniques used in pathological anatomy, they will understand the fundamental principles of organizing and managing a cancer screening program, thereby gaining insight into the specific characteristics of a cytology lab and a molecular diagnostics lab for HPV screening tests. D2 - Applying Knowledge and Understanding Students will be able to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired in managing operating room instrumentation, laboratory instruments and sterilization centers. D3 - Making Judgements Students will develop the ability to independently evaluate the technologies and instrumentation used in the operating room and in the laboratory, judging the adequacy and effectiveness of the various techniques and instruments. D4 - Communication Skills Students will improve their skills on the covered topics, essential for working effectively in a multidisciplinary context. They must be able to interact with various professionals, providing engineering support in healthcare settings, particularly in the technical management of operating rooms and laboratories. D5 - Learning Skills Students will develop the ability to learn autonomously and continuously, keeping up to date with new technologies and methodologies used in operating rooms and in medical laboratories. They will be able to quickly adapt to technological advancements in this field and integrate new knowledge into their professional practice. Finally, they will learn how to evaluate the washing, disinfection, and sterilization techniques of hospital-use devices, which are essential for ensuring patient safety.

Basic knowledge of biomedical instrumentation.

Part 1: Technological, Structural, and Plant Requirements of Operating Rooms; Lighting Systems; Operating Table; Hanging cabinets; Surgical Instruments: Electrosurgical Unit, Laser Scalpel, Vessel Sealing Systems, Ultrasonic Surgical Devices, Advanced Techniques; Anesthesia Machine; Depth of Anesthesia (DoA) Monitoring; Infusion Pumps; Multiparameter Monitors; Defibrillator; Endoscopy in the Operating Room; Intraoperative Ultrasound; Robotic Surgery; Specialized Operating Rooms. Part 2: Organization of a Histopathology laboratory and an HPV/PAP test integrated diagnostic laboratory for cervical cancer screening. Part 3: Medical Laboratory and Related Risks; Biological Risk in Hospital Practice and Analytical Laboratories; Analytical Process; Types of Analyses; Automation of the Analytical Process; Clinical Chemistry; Immunochemistry; Electrophoresis; Blood Gas Analysis; Microbiology; Molecular Diagnostics; Centrifugation; Washing, Disinfection, and Sterilization Process: Regulations, Procedures, and Environments; Hematological Analyses.

Technical documentation and manuals, Course slides, Scientific articles; Manual of Functional Pathologic Anatomy Pelosi G et al. Minerva Medica Editions 2022, additional material provided by the lecturer.

Part 1: The importance of instrumentation in the operating room, Technological, Structural, and Plant Requirements of Operating Rooms; The role of medical and technical personnel, Types of operating rooms, Workflow systems, Lighting systems - surgical lights Operating Table; Ceiling-Mounted Pendants; Surgical Instruments: Electrosurgical Unit, Laser Scalpel, Vessel Sealing Systems, Ultrasonic Surgical Devices, Advanced Techniques; Anesthesia Machine; Depth of Anesthesia (DoA) Monitoring; Infusion Pumps; Multiparameter Monitors; Defibrillator; Endoscopy in the Operating Room: videoendoscopy systems, rigid and flexible endoscopes; Intraoperative Ultrasound, Robotic surgery; Specialized operating rooms: characteristics of dedicated operating rooms and specific instrumentation; Examples of operating rooms for cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, etc. Part 2: Basic knowledge related to tools used for sample submission: the cytobrush; tools for sampling surgical specimens and endoscopic biopsies: hoods for chemical and biological risk. Tools for sample processing and operating principles: tissue processors. Tools for paraffin embedding: embedding stations and automatic embedders. Microtomes and cryostats. Immunohistochemistry and histochemistry: general principles and automated tools. Automated stainers and principles of staining in histology and cytology. Screening pathways for cervical cancer prevention: conventional cytology and liquid-based cytology. Automated preparations. Principles of staining for cervical-vaginal specimens: Papanicolaou staining (PAP). Bethesda criteria and cytological reporting. HPV testing: clinical rationale and automated instrumentation for high-risk genotype detection. Medical Laboratory and Related Risks; Biological Risk in Hospital Practice and Analytical Laboratories; Analytical Process: Pre-analytical, Analytical, and Post-analytical Phases; Types of Analyses; Automation of the Analytical Process; Clinical Chemistry: Photometry and Spectrophotometry, Lambert-Beer Law, Clinical Chemistry Analyzers, POCT (Point of Care Testing); Immunochemistry: Instrumentation, ELISA Techniques, Dry-phase Methods, and POCT; Electrophoresis: Capillary Electrophoresis, Immunoelectrophoresis (IEP), Isoelectric Focusing (IEF); Blood Gas Analysis: Equipment and Electrodes; Microbiology; Molecular Diagnostics; Centrifugation; PCR. Washing, Disinfection, and Sterilization Processes: Regulations, Definitions, Washing Techniques, Thermodisinfectors; Detergents; Endoscope Washers; Sterilization Techniques: Steam, Gas Plasma, Peracetic Acid; Packaging and Containers for Sterile Kits; Environments for Washing, Disinfection, Sterilization, and Kit Reassembly; Sterilization Testing and Sterility Maintenance; Responsibilities and Documentation; Hematological Analyses: Blood and Its Components, Hematology Analyzers, Flow Cytometers.

Lectures on the main topics with use of explanatory lecture slides and films provided to students at the end of the lectures. visits to operating rooms. Visit to a histopathology laboratory, cytology laboratory and immunohistochemistry laboratory. Participation in a HPV molecular test set-up session on highly automated instrumentation.

Oral examination

This course explores topics closely related to one or more goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-being.