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A P R I L 2 0 1 4 | O U T P AT 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
guidance is all about safety and efficiency, about seeing precisely where
I'm at in real time.
Breathe easier
Some doctors reserve image guidance for revision or more complex sur-
geries where the anatomy has changed (see "Criteria for Image-Guided
Surgery"), others argue why ration a device that helps you make more
informed decisions in the OR? Let me stress that navigation is by no
means a replacement for experience. Navigation is a tool to help with
surgery, not a teacher and not a mentor.
Here's a perfect case in point. Recently I performed a sinus surgery on a
patient with chronic sinusitis, who as a result of a prior surgery over a
decade ago had a skull base defect. Before I looked into the nostril, I
knew to stay away from the defect between the brain and sinus because
we had mapped that region and I could see it clearly on the monitor.
Using image guidance while operating, you'll know exactly where you are
— and where not to go. I see the septum and a very large turbinate that's
blocking the nasal cavity. I shrink the turbinate down so he can breathe
better and remove the polyps that are blocking the sinus openings.
Thanks to image guidance, my patient can breathe clearer and I can
breathe a little easier.
Certainly, you'll spend extra time and costs setting up image-guided
sinus surgery, but I ask myself this: If my loved one were having sinus
surgery, you want the best technology out there. Sometimes only I'll use
image guidance at the end of a case to make sure I removed everything I
wanted to.
For efficiency's sake
Here are a few tips on using image guidance efficiently.
•
Ease of setup.
It takes my staff and me no more than 3 minutes to
S U R G I C A L N A V I G A T I O N
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