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I N T R A O P
V I S U A L I Z A T I O N
to outside conference rooms or auditoriums.
Perception is everything
Visualizing the surgical field has always been a critical element of conducting successful surgery. Surgeons attempting to expose and access
targeted areas during traditional open procedures make fairly invasive
incisions and move tissue and organs out of the way. They're limited
in their abilities to deliver light and instrumentation into the surgical
space without obstructing their views.
Minimally invasive surgery solves some of those visualization issues
by letting surgeons maneuver instruments and cameras directly into
the surgical cavity through small ports, but HD enhancement of the
images is often needed to improve surgeons' abilities to perform effectively and safely.
HD images broadcast to flat screens let the entire surgical team track
the case's progression without having to peer over the shoulders of the
surgeon and tech. That means circulators and other assistants can prep
needed instruments and items for the surgery's next step. It's not a stretch
to say that large HD displays positioned around the OR can keep cases
moving.
Surgeons operating from video images must do so without the critical depth perception they enjoy during open surgery; their brains
must learn to interpret visual cues and spatial relationships from flat
monitors so they don't injure adjacent structures, organs and tissues.
High definition makes that learning curve less steep and improves
surgeons' abilities to process visual signals that replace the normal
binocular vision that creates depth perception. The color, quality and
definition of HD images enhance surgeons' abilities to judge depth,
spatial relationships and size of anatomy. As they get used to operating with advanced imaging, their brains will automatically assimilate
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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 | N O V E M B E R 2013
