that look beyond higher resolu-
tion or improved depth percep-
tion, and instead attempt to
show the surgeon what his
eyes can't see on their own.
There are systems that feature
narrow band or fluorescence
imaging, which use either
injected dye or filtered light to
show contrast-enhanced views
of the surgical surface. Other
systems use technology to digi-
tally brighten up dark areas of
the anatomy, intensify colors or
cut through the haze of surgical
smoke during the procedure.
Typically, these systems only
feature standard high-definition
images.
Each type of technology has its own benefits. For example, endo-
scopic fluorescence technology can help a surgeon differentiate
between healthy tissue and malignancies. "Enhanced imaging can be
good for evaluating the spread of tumors or tissue perfusion," says Dr.
Sherburne.
Other systems focus more on tailoring the surgery to the specialty.
The surgeon can select which type of procedure he's performing —
arthroscopy or general surgery, for example — and the system will
automatically adjust the color and digitally remove fog or smoke haze
to make anatomic structures appear much clearer. Some of these
image enhancement systems are also made with multispecialty centers
2 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • A P R I L 2 0 1 8
• FOLLOW ALONG Large monitors mounted throughout ORs let all
members of the surgical team track every step of the surgery.
James
P.
Stannard,
MD
