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M I N I M A L L Y
I N V A S I V E
S U R G E R Y
SAFETY STEPS
Send Patients Home
Faster and Happier
I
s the improving technology related to minimally invasive
laparoscopic surgery mostly just bells and whistles at
this point? "There's a fair amount of cynicism out
there," admits Alexander Rosemurgy, MD. "Some surgeons may feel that what patients are getting now is good
enough, and they don't have to do more."
Granted, some cynicism can be healthy, acknowledges
Dr. Rosemurgy, director of the Surgical Digestive Disorders
and GERD Center at Florida Hospital's Southeastern Center
for Digestive Disorders and Pancreatic Cancer, Advanced
COMING ATTRACTION
Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery in Tampa. But, he Sharona Ross, MD, and
Alexander Rosemurgy, MD,
says, to ignore the innovations now available is to leave on are helping to develop new
the table opportunities for dramatic improvements in safety ideas, like 'no-fly zones' and
reformatted views that let
and efficiency and for getting patients home faster and
novice surgeons see where
their instruments are before
happier.
they reach the camera view.
True, recent developments aren't as profound as what
he calls the "sentinel paradigm shift" that was the genesis of laparoscopic surgery, but
they're highly significant, nonetheless. "What we're talking about now is ever-improving
instrumentation and technology. The differences are smaller steps — incremental
improvements."
— Jim Burger
also very advantageous cost-wise, because it removed the rod lens system,
which reduces repair costs. The fact that it's autoclavable also reduces costs."
• Improved ergonomics. The all-in-one design of the deflectable tip laparoscope,
with its integrated light cable and camera system, also represents an ergonomic
improvement. "Eliminating the (external) light source coming in at 90 degrees
from the actual shaft of the camera was very useful, especially for single-inci-
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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 | J A N U A R Y 2014
