First Zero-Gravity Surgery a Success

MattSparkes writes "Slashdot reported earlier this week that the first ever zero gravity surgery was to take place. Today the team of doctors successfully carried out the operation, removing a benign tumour from the forearm of a 46-year-old volunteer. "Now we know that a human being can be operated on in space without too many difficulties," team leader Dominique Martin said after the flight. The studies show that minor surgery is possible even during long-term inhabitation of space."

Comments

Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research?

[Bamafan77]

And if so, where do I sign up?

Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research?

[Red Flayer]

I'm sure some of the mice experiments involved reproductive testing.

As to which astronaut actually had to copulate with the mice, I don't know.

Re:Anyone doing Zero Gravity Copulation research?

[WillyPete]

By the same logic, if NASA ordered them to do it, they would do so without hesitation. They may not be a military outfit, but they are dominated by military men, and perform military operations.

I did hear that they supposedly shot a porn in a flight just like the surgeons. Never saw it, and wouldn't want to. They call those things "Vomit Comets" for a reason. I half expected to hear the doctors puked on their patient. They must have trained in Zero-G ahead of time.

There's also a document floating around that discusses an alleged series of experiments in the cargo bay of the shuttle. Sex in Zero-G sounds awesome, but the lack gravity would make it tricky to get any leverage. The doc claims they tried several things, including ropes and a tube large enough to hold both "subjects." The document's probably a fake, but it does raise enough salient points to be an interesting read. Happy hunting.

Long term?

[truthsearch]

The studies show that minor surgery is possible even during long-term inhabitation of space.

They were at zero-g for 20 seconds at a time. How does that prove the same techniques will work after the body has been in zero-g for long periods of time? TFA makes no mention of this.

Re:Long term?

[brother bloat]

I agree that this system may not scale so simply. In addition to the issue of time scale, the doctors mentioned that they, in at least some cases, will be using robots operated remotely rather than the actual surgeons being present on board. One could argue that the success of this experimental surgery suggests that other zero gravity surgeries aren't out of the question. However, it's extremely difficult to predict how subtle differences involved in going from parabolic flight to space flight will affect such a complicated thing as surgery.

In other news...

[tompaulco]

The first 2G surgery was ALSO a success.

Re:Lots of blood

[Moby Cock]

The presence of lots of blood is already a problem. It tends to pool, obstucting the surgeons view. That's why they have suction mechanisms. Suction is still valid in micro-gravity.

I don't expect space operating theatres to look anything like Star Trek VI, with blood drops drifting about aimlessly.

Re:Next medical challenge

[CrashPoint]

That sure would suck, and would be a crushing disappointment if it failed.

Re:Next medical challenge

[Isotopian]

That was a terrible joke to make. Do you have any idea what kind of pressure those people are under?