IAsMA Journal Club: Surgery in Space
On October 19, 2025, IAsMA hosted its latest Journal Club session, focusing on one of the most high-stakes challenges in space medicine: how to safely perform surgery in microgravity.
Led by IAsMA member Noam Glukhovsky, the session explored the reality of emergency procedures in space and spotlighted a recent article titled:
“Design and Evaluation of a Multifunctional Surgical Device for Space-Based Applications” (Barrow et al., 2020, Acta Astronautica).
The discussion was moderated by Taylor Lonner, a PhD student in Bioastronautics at the University of Colorado Boulder.
About the Presenter
Noam Glukhovsky is a Technion American Medical School student based in Haifa. He holds a B.S. in Cell & Developmental Biology from UC Santa Barbara and an M.S. in Neuroscience from the Technion. His academic journey reflects the spirit of IAsMA’s mission—bringing diverse expertise to the frontier of space medicine.
Why Surgery in Space Is a Critical Topic
While no human surgeries have been performed in orbit to date, medical emergencies during long-duration space missions are inevitable. These emergencies could include:
- Trauma
- Appendicitis
- Thrombotic events
- Dental or allergic reactions
- Neurological incidents
Evacuation times from the ISS may take hours, but for the Moon or Mars, days or even months. This makes on-board, autonomous surgical care a critical area of research.
Technical & Logistical Challenges in Microgravity
During the session, participants discussed challenges such as:
- Sterility: Fluids float in microgravity, making infection control and particle containment difficult.
- Restraint: Both patient and operator must be stabilized during surgery.
- Tool Design: Conventional surgical tools are too bulky and single-purpose for space.
- Anesthesia Risks: Gas-based systems are harder to control and the effects of anesthetics may differ in space.
- Limited Imaging: Ultrasound is currently the most feasible diagnostic imaging tool, but requires training.
- Telemedicine Delays: With communication delays up to 21 minutes for Mars, real-time remote support is not viable.
The Device: Compact, Functional, and Designed for Space
The journal article reviewed detailed a Multifunctional Surgical Device (MFSD) created by researchers from the University of Louisville and Cornell University. The device integrates:
- Suction
- Irrigation
- Illumination
All within a single, lightweight tool designed for use in space’s unique environment. The device is built to work with NASA’s Aqueous Immersion Surgical System (AISS), which contains fluids and maintains a sterile field in microgravity.
Note: Features like cauterization and imaging were identified as future goals, not yet present in the current prototype.
The device was tested successfully in:
- Benchtop tests (evaluating flow rate and seal integrity)
- Intraoperative porcine tissue models (demonstrating suction, irrigation, and illumination functions)
Key Takeaways from the Journal Club Discussion
- Tool Design Matters: Multifunctionality reduces the need for multiple tools—critical for spacecraft mass and volume constraints.
- Training Non-Surgeons: Color-coded buttons and intuitive design make the tool easier for trained non-experts to operate.
- Telehealth Limitations: Communication delays make autonomous operation essential for deep-space missions.
- Dual-Use Applications: This compact tool could benefit remote Earth settings like naval ships, rural clinics, and disaster zones.
Reflecting IAsMA’s Mission
This Journal Club highlights IAsMA’s core values: advancing aerospace medicine through education, research, and innovation. It brought together students across fields—medicine, neuroscience, bioengineering—to engage with real-world challenges and promising solutions.
Through community-led learning and student-driven discussions, we’re shaping the next generation of thinkers and practitioners in space health—because what we learn beyond Earth improves care right here at home.
Join the Next Session
IAsMA’s Journal Club is a student-led initiative focused on exploring aerospace medicine through real research, shared discussion, and curiosity.
📖 Sessions are open to members across disciplines
📩 Email us to get involved or learn more
🌐 www.iasma.org.il
📩 Summer@iasma.org.il
