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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 | N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 4
sue inflamma-
tion, which
increases blood
flow in the
operative field.
Surgeons must
work to keep
the field as
clear as possi-
ble as they navi-
gate close to
delicate struc-
tures. Suction instruments are designed for that task, but image guid-
ance offers another level of safety. It's nice to know for certain if there is
one more plane of cells between instruments and the dura, especially
when disease has eroded layers of bone. When the field is bloody, it's
hard to differentiate dura from inflamed nasal tissue, especially if the tis-
sue is scarred from disease or previous surgery. Image guidance elimi-
nates those question marks and removes uncertainty from the surgeon's
mind.
The fusion of CT scans and MRI images, which is available in some
systems, capitalizes on the advantages of 2 imaging modalities. CT
scans are very accurate for bone and soft tissue interfaces. For exam-
ple, at the skull base, you want to know if there's a bone between the
nasal passage and the brain. When working near the orbit or the optic
nerve, you want to know if a bony plate is protecting those areas.
(Actually, you really want to know if one is not).
MRIs pick up soft tissue and show a lot more soft tissue detail than a
CT scan allows, which is especially helpful when viewing structures in
the eye or brain. The problem is that bone shows up as a void.
S I N U S S U R G E R Y
SURGEON SATISFIER
More docs expect to
have image-guided
technology in their ORs.
Houston
Methodist
Hospital
