The Documentary Podcast Surgery in a backpack
Dec 11, 2025
Craig Langren, an investigative reporter, and Kat Sellers, the Executive Director of FieldReady, dive into the innovative delivery of medical support in conflict areas. They discuss the groundbreaking Sergibox, an inflatable operating bubble used in dangerous settings like Ukraine and Myanmar, and how local repairs can revitalize vital equipment. Kat explains the importance of 3D printing to restore medical devices in places like Syria, while Craig highlights community-driven emergency responses in Sudan that revolutionize healthcare access amidst chaos.
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Portable Operating Theatre In A Backpack
- Sergibox creates a sterile positive-pressure bubble that mimics an operating theatre around a patient.
- The inflatable system filters air and uses positive pressure to keep contaminated air out during surgery.
Field Surgery In Myanmar Basement
- A surgeon in Myanmar used the inflatable bubble in a basement to remove shrapnel after an airstrike.
- The surgeon said it was convenient and recommended other doctors adopt it for field surgeries.
Design For Reuse And Cost Reduction
- Keep the inflatable bubble single-use to avoid cross-contamination while reusing the frame and pump.
- Aim to reduce per-surgery cost from about $300 toward a target under $100 through scaling.