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S U R G I C A L
Q
I M A G I N G
Does HD improve surgical outcomes?
At present, this remains an open question. Capturing and displaying images in high-definition resolution brings height-
ened detail and clarity to surgical sites that aren't viewable by direct
means. This advance can potentially boost surgeons' confidence in
identifying anatomy, dissecting tissue, positioning instruments and
implants and carrying out such tasks as laparoscopically knotting
suture.
"When you can see all the tears and burrs (in a shoulder) and determine precisely how much anchoring fixation you'll need to achieve
the desired result, you have to imagine that outcomes are going to be
better," says Gabrielle White, RN, CASC, executive director at the
Orthopedic Surgery Center of Orange County in Newport Beach,
Calif.
In the absence of clinical studies on the subject, however, the benefits of crisp, clear images are unproven beyond physicians' testimonials. "Certainly there are advantages for the patient and the surgeon,"
says Martha Ferguson, MD, FACS, an assistant professor of surgery in
the University of Cincinnati's division of colon and rectal surgery who
operates at the West Chester (Ohio) Hospital. "But improved outcomes are very difficult to measure," particularly when it's solely the
impact of HD imaging that you're attempting to measure.
N O V E M B E R 2012 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
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