A P R I L 2 0 1 6 O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T 2 3
big difference: "When I'm doing gastric
bypass surgery, I see vessels and struc-
tures much more clearly.
For example, he says, the posterior of the abdominal wall is filled with
branches of small vessels, which are difficult to identify and, when accidentally
cut, fill the surrounding area will a small pool of blood. "It's not dangerous, but
it slows you down," he adds. "With 4K, I'm able to see every single branch."
More to see
Is it just a matter of time before 4K becomes as standard in ORs as regular high
definition is now? "I would think so," says Dr. Kung, "now that it's becoming
more common and the price is becoming more reasonable. Once surgeons use
it, they're going to want to continue using it."
Of course, as breathtakingly clear as the new technology is, it's only going to
get better. Scientists and engineers are already working on bringing 8K to the
OR. That's fine with Dr. Uchal, a self-described technology junkie. "I think we'll
have 3D and 4K on curved screens in front of both the surgeon and the assistant
in the next couple of years," he says. "We're getting there. Ultra high-def is defi-
nitely a step forward."
OSM
You don't really know what
you're missing until you see it.
— Peter Kung, MD, FAAOS
