KARACHI: A temporal bone dissection skill laboratory, the first ever at any public sector hospital in Pakistan, was inaugurated at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) on Tuesday.

The ceremony was organised by the ENT department of the hospital.

Highlighting the need for the laboratory, head of the ENT department at the JPMC Prof Sameer Qureshi explained that the facility was required to treat cases of complicated ear infections, often treated by mopping of ear or with antibiotics.

“Discharging ear or chronic ear infection may present with extensive disease or complications, requiring surgical intervention. Unfortunately, there are very few surgeons to manage such cases,” he said, adding that this was because of lack of facilities where postgraduate trainees and fresh consultants could be trained and improve their skills.

According to him, worldwide cadaveric dissection is considered to be mandatory part of training to gain anatomical knowledge and experience in temporal bone handling.

“Worldwide temporal bone dissection workshops are organised and those workshops are so expensive that the majority of trainees cannot afford it. Besides, usually such workshops are organised once or twice a year so many candidates remain deprived of getting training.”

The JPMC, he said, had become a pioneer in this field and its ENT department now with this facility planned to conduct at least 10 workshops per year.

“The fee would be minimal so that every resident is able to afford it. Workshops will be conducted under the supervision of reputed master trainers,” he said, adding that the lab was equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.

Later, Prof Q.M.H. Jalesi, former head of the ENT department of JPMC, inaugurated the laboratory.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2019