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er to manage, right? "It's
exactly the same size as the
regular high-def camera," says
Dr. Kung, "It just uses a differ-
ent lens and screen."
"Slick, small and sturdy" is
how Dr. Uchal describes the
camera. "And it has a very
good locking mechanism.
When you lock the telescope
in, it stays put. It doesn't
twist. The design is awesome."
Dr. Uchal's preferred setup involves using two screens: a 55-inch model for
himself and a 32-inch screen for his assistant. "My experience is that bigger
is better," he says. "If I go smaller, I feel claustrophobic and have to adjust.
It's like driving a full-size sedan and then sitting in a small compact. It will
get you where you need to go, but it's just not as comfortable."
But, he says, if the 55-inch screen is too big in some situations ("if anesthesia
is complaining") the 32-inch model is still light-years ahead. "It gives me much,
much better quality. I see detail, and if I see detail, I may avoid a critical blood
vessel, or I may see the suture going through the bowel. You see every single
detail. And you can be a safer surgeon if you see better."
But improved outcomes?
For now, surgeons like Drs. Uchal and Kung have to rely on the intuitive —
some might say obvious — belief that better visualization will lead to better out-
comes. "Is there a potential benefit? Sure," says Dr. Kung. And seeing has been
converting for his fellow surgeons at St. John's Medical Center. "We basically
use 4K for all our procedures," he says. "The urologists in our surgery center are
using it now, as well." General surgeons at St. John's have also become believ-
• ROOM WITH A VIEW The 4K picture is so
bright and sharp, there's no need to dim the OR lights.
Timothy
Sheehan
