Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.
Issue link: http://outpatientsurgery.uberflip.com/i/726435
systems go beyond higher resolution or improved depth perception. This category includes optical enhancement systems like narrow band or fluorescence imaging, which use either injected dye or filtered light to show contrast-enhanced views of the surgical surface. Another technology uses digital processors to cut through smoke and fog, intensify colors and sharpen images. Dr. Pryor has tried fluorescence imaging technology that requires you first to inject the patient with an indocyanine green solution. Using the image enhancement system, you can switch the video from standard white light to fluorescence imaging during the procedure. The green dye lights up certain anatomical features, letting you "see bile ducts and blood vessels more easily," says Dr. Pryor, which could "cut down on complications and improve patient safety." 3 Less-invasive weight loss A few new technologies aim to make bariatric surgery less inva- sive: • A pump that dumps. AspireAssist is an external stomach pump that dumps part of the stomach contents into the toilet. Surgeons insert the device during a simple 15-minute procedure under con- scious sedation. Dr. Pryor calls the technology "an exciting addition to what we can already do in bariatric surgery," says Dr. Pryor. • Gastric balloons. The Elipse is a procedureless gastric balloon that comes in a capsule that patients swallow. The capsule is attached to a thin swallowable catheter that's long enough so that once the cap- sule degrades inside the stomach, you can fill the ballon with fluid from outside the mouth. After the balloon is filled, you detach the catheter and remove it from the mouth. About 4 months later, the bal- loon deflates and passes into the toilet. "For patients trying to lose 100 or more pounds, it's not likely the S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 6 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 2 5