Real-time imaging technologies could support safer, faster and smarter Lap Chole procedures
Surgeons are expected to provide effective and timely treatment for some of today’s most prevalent conditions, while maintaining the same exceptional standards of care. This can be challenging when one is working in a busy, highly-pressured healthcare system, with the usual budgetary and staffing constraints.
Innovations in medical technology can help them to maintain or improve the standard of care, reduce recovery times and free-up hospital beds. The challenge is to find the technology that can deliver genuine value, offering more efficient procedures and reduced risks.
Cholelithiasis is relatively common in many parts of the world, especially among western Caucasian populations (c. 10% - 20%)1. Cases in women tend to outnumber men by around 3 to 1. Despite most cases being asymptomatic (circa 80%)1, there are over 750,000 Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies performed annually in the US alone.2
The Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) has certainly evolved since Prof Dr. Erich Mühe of Germany performed the first one in 1985. Today’s surgeons can operate with greater insight, better tools and have multiple options for planning, guiding and assessing their procedures.
The adoption of the laparoscopic approach in cholecystectomy has brought many benefits, including greatly reduced hospital stays and faster recovery times.
One of the potential downsides with the adoption of LC is the increased risk of bile duct injuries (BDIs). To help reduce this risk, surgeons can choose from several intraoperative imaging solutions to provide valuable insights into critical biliary tract anatomy, identify common bile duct stones (CBDs) and assess surgical outcomes.
In our new white paper, The Value of Intraoperative Imaging in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, we take a detailed look at the major intraoperative imaging modalities and their potential benefits to the busy surgeon.
Effective real-time imaging guidance can help to avoid BDIs and shorten procedure times. The costs of adding additional imaging technology to the OR can be offset by the potential for savings in OR / procedure time and a reduced burden of bile duct injuries.
Gaining a better understanding of the benefits and limitations of each imaging modality can help surgeons and healthcare providers, as they strive to deliver the highest possible standards of care for their patients during LC procedures.
Read the full White Paper here.
References
1.Stinton LM, Shaffer EA. Epidemiology of gallbladder disease: cholelithiasis and cancer. Gut Liver. 2012 Apr;6(2):172-87. doi: 10.5009/gnl.2012.6.2.172. Epub 2012 Apr 17. PMID: 22570746; PMCID: PMC3343155.
2.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00464-012-2767-5
