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Mentorship programme training by Dr. Rakesh Rai

Dec 1, 2025

The Department of General Surgery, Father Muller Medical College, in collaboration with Medtronic India conducted a mentorship training programme on 22.11.2025.

The mentorship training programme focussed around training the young aspiring surgeons in Laparoscopic hernia surgeries (Inguinal and umbilical). It was guided by Dr. Rakesh Rai A, Professor and HOD department of General Surgery, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore who is poiner in field of the laparoscopy especially in laparoscopic hernia repair.

Hence Medtronic India has made MOU with Father Muller Medical College  Hospital and Dr. Rakesh Rai Head of Department of Surgery established centre of Excellence in Hernia Surgery at Father Muller Medical College Hospital.

A Total of 4 candidates from around Karnataka selected for this mentorship programme who were practicing laparoscopic surgeons and were aspiring to learn advanced laparoscopic hernia surgeries.

The total of 4 surgeries were performed. Two 3D Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs and 1 2D laparoscopic hernia repair and 1 Laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair (IPOM).

The surgery started around 8.30am with the 3D bilateral inguinal hernia repair. Dr. Rakesh Rai explained the candidates regarding the site for peritoneal incisions and the dissection methods used for   creating planes in the hernia surgery. He stressed up on the medial dissection to be adequate as the recurrence occur in that region. Later he demonstrated the triangle of pain and triangle of doom and told to avoid any suture or tacking in this region. He also demonstrated the spermatic cord dissection and stressed on dissecting the cord until the vas deferens Turing medially and plexus turning laterally. Followed by he demonstrated the mesh placement which was 3D mesh designed by Medtronic India which has the ability to adapt to the contour of the inguinal canal and followed by closure of the peritoneal flap by VLOCK barbed sutures Medtronic.

Dr. Rakesh Rai explained regarding the advantages of using 3D laparoscopes in inguinal hernias as the depth perception is excellence and image clarity improves significantly. He also stressed on using new haemostatic devices like Sonic incision by Medtronic India which is hands free device, battery charged and provide excellent sealing and cutting options.

Followed by this the second case umbilical hernioplasty (IPOM) started with explaining the participants the incision site sand marking of the anterior abdominal wall. He demonstrated the use of an optical trocar which is excellent for visualizing and entering the abdominal cavity. He also demonstrated to methods to close the umbilical defect for which he used VLOCK, barbed sutures. Followed by which he demonstrated the placement of the mesh. He used the symbotex mesh by Medtronic India. It is a composite mesh which is macro porous and light weight and was fixed to the abdominal wall with power generated absorbable tacking device to hold the mesh in place.

Followed by third case was done which was 2D inguinal laparoscopic hernia repair. Following this discussion session was conducted and was dispersed for lunch. In the post lunch session another 3D laparoscopic hernia surgery was performed. It was followed by discussion about complications and any related queries and finally certificate handed over to the participants in a formal ceremony.