The Surgical Research Laboratory is one of the
special research units of the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus.
It was founded in 1952 by Dr. Frank Raffucci as the research workshop of the
Department of Surgery. The current director is Dr. Norma I. Cruz, a plastic
surgeon who received her training at Yale University. She is board certified
in general and plastic surgery.
An integral part of the Department of Surgery, the Laboratory is responsible for research and teaching in the general field of surgery. It also serves as the base for surgical researchers associated with the Medical School. It has active teaching programs for faculty, residents and students interested in surgical technique and research.
The Surgical Research Laboratory is at the forefront, training our surgeons in endoscopic surgery and the use of ultrasonic surgical devices. Interaction of our unit with private industry is increasing steadily, leading to the expanding use of this unit for new surgical equipment testing and evaluation.
Our address is:
Surgical Research Lab.
Medical Sciences Campus, UPR
P.O. Box 365067
San Juan, P.R. 00936-5067
Phone: (787) 758-2525 ext. 1050
Fax: (787) 758-1119
We offer services to private industry and the
academic community. Our fully equipped operating rooms, radiology suite, and
area for sterilization of linen and instruments, are available for a very reasonable
fee (see Fees Section). A staff surgeon, an animal health specialist, and operating
room personnel are present to assist for all surgical needs.
Our facilities are available for surgical product testing and evaluation. Demonstrations and instructional courses are organized for surgical equipment companies that need to introduce new equipment to the local market.
Our personnel will also help make arrangements with the Animal Resource Center to obtain the correct animal model for the proposed research, product testing, instructional course or demonstration.
Current facilities, located on the tenth floor,
include five fully equipped operating rooms, radiology suite and area for sterilization
of linen and instruments. Surgical instruments, operating microscope, three
endoscopic surgery towers, anesthesia machine and ventilators are available.
We also have prepared a recovery room for large animals. The facilities are
fully accredited for live surgery by the American Association for the Accreditation
of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC). Adjacent to us on the tenth floor, all
the infrastructure needs for surgical research are available, including the
Animal Resource Center and the Animal Health Technology Program. The Department
of Surgery, located on the ninth floor, has a faculty of 30 board certified
surgeons that include all surgical specialties and is highly involved with academia
and research.
Our current staff is comprised of a full-time surgeon, a secretary, an animal health technologist, an operating room technician, a laboratory assistant, and a laboratory aide.
Director: Norma I. Cruz, M.D.
Professor of Surgery
E-mail: normacruz@sanjuanstar.net
Plastic surgeon trained at Yale University, she is double boarded in general and plastic surgery. She completed her training at Yale University in 1983 and came to the University of Puerto Rico, where she has had an academic practice since that time. Currently she is the author of 42 publications on research topics ranging from wound healing to breast surgery.
Secretary: Maria Elena Tapia
Animal heath tech: Helen Romero
Operating room tech: Anisia Core
Laboratory assistant: Antonio Cotto
Laboratory aide: José Rosado
I. Use of operating room
Morning (8:00-11:00 AM) Small animals - $ 75.00 Large animals - $ 100.00
Afternoon (12:30-3:30 PM) Small animals - $ 75.00 Large animals - $ 100.00
II. Use of operating room plus sterile instruments for ˝ day
Small animals - 125.00 Large animals - $ 150.00
III. Use of operating room plus instruments and help by technician for ˝ day
Small animals - $175.00 Large animals - $ 200.00
These are exciting times in the field of surgical research, from voice-controlled robotic 3D-endoscopic surgery to ultrasonic tissue fragmentation; this technological revolution has changed the way we do surgery in the 21st century. Presently we are working on the installation of cameras and internet terminals in each of our operating rooms to allow the transmission of live surgery courses through the internet. This “Tele-Medicine” project will be ready by the summer of 2002.
One of our operating rooms is now fully equipped with neuro-radiology equipment and we are prepared to begin research on endovascular neurosurgery.
Our enthusiasm is stimulated by these new developments and we are pleased that we are in a position to contribute to the advancement of surgical science.