A leading NHS (England) cardiothoracic surgeon has performed a challenging valve operation, watched via High Definition Medical Conferencing by over 40 other leading surgeons from around the world in a post graduate centre at a university campus in West London.

Mr Prakash P Punjabi, a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, is one of just a few leading surgeons pioneering the use of Medical Conferencing equipment in the UK to help spread the word about this technically challenging method of valve reparation to other practitioners, whilst at the same time viewing a close up of the heart valve using a high quality endoscope, patient vital signs and ultrasound images.

The procedure took place on 4th July 2008, with Mr Punjabi based in the operating room, whilst having a fully interactive discussion with surgeons from the UK, the rest of Europe as well as the US and the Middle East. The Medical Conferencing equipment, from MultiSense Communications, using Polycom High Definition technology, provides high quality video and audio in each room enabling the teams to clearly see and hear each other.

However, as Mr Punjabi explains, the quality of the patient images is the most important aspect of the session: "The HD video conferencing equipment allows detailed discussions of patient cases and the decision on treatment pathways - in this particular case, a technically challenging valve reparation as opposed to the more typical valve replacement procedure. We're pioneering this technique to spread the word and to educate not only other surgeons but also patients that such repairs are now available."

Mr Punjabi continues: "This is an excellent illustration of the use of modern technology to provide advanced surgical training and techniques which is enabling us to provide the best treatment to patients across the NHS. This highly complex procedure could not have been transmitted without the help and solution from MultiSense Communications."

MultiSense Communications has been providing specialist Medical Conferencing solutions to all sectors of the NHS in England and Wales for over twelve years. Andrew Graley, Director of Healthcare Solutions comments: "Producing a Medical Conferencing solution has taken time, patience and proactive consultation with clinicians from all areas of healthcare delivery. Confidence in the solutions is now high enough for the technology to become a seamless, vital tool for every day healthcare use."

"In the last four years, MultiSense Communications' solutions have helped clinicians reduce waiting times and contributed to the improvement on performance targets."

Paul Louden, UK and Ireland VP of Sales at Polycom UK, comments: "MultiSense Communications are Polycom's healthcare focused channel partner in the UK with over 13 years experience. Telemedicine is a good use of High Definition technology, and we're delighted that Mr Punjabi has been able to use it to carry out such an important procedure that will help to educate surgeons from around the world."

MultiSense Communications has over thirteen years experience in all aspects of video-conferencing and is Polycom's only focused Specialist Healthcare Partner. MultiSense Communications is involved in many advanced and specialised healthcare applications which include cancer Multi Disciplinary Team meetings (MDTs), Telemedicine, A&E and MIU. In this 60th year of the NHS, such projects are helping clinicians provide enhanced patient care, reduce the need for travel and achieve the eighteen week target from GP referral. MultiSense Communications provide consultancy, product, training and operational support to clinicians throughout the UK. For additional information please call 01494 461949 or visit our website http://www.multisense.co.uk

Polycom, Inc. is the worldwide leader in unified collaborative communications (UCC) that maximize the efficiency and productivity of people and organisations. Polycom delivers the broadest array of high definition telepresence video, wired and wireless voice, and content solutions so people can enjoy the best communications, whether from a real-time collaborative interaction or on-demand streamed video experience. Spanning from the desktop to the industry's only immersive telepresence suite, Polycom's high quality collaboration and communications solutions are easy to deploy and manage, as well as intuitive to use. Based on open standards, they integrate seamlessly with leading telephony and presence-based networks. With innovative market-driving technologies, a compelling vision for next generation visual communications, best-in-class products, alliance partnerships, and world-class service, Polycom is the smart choice for organizations to gain a competitive advantage with proven and trusted communication solutions. For additional information visit the Polycom web site at http://www.polycom.com