June 22, 2017
Having the latest generation of high definition or HD technology available in all operating rooms at Marshall Medical Centers is praised by surgeons as a tool that transforms surgical procedures.
The Olympus/Sony 4K Ultra High-Definition 55-inch video system changes the way surgeons operate, offering the same immersive experience in the operating room as people experience in their living rooms. Surgeons are not limited by resolution or image quality, only by the limits of the human eye. Precise visualization enables the diagnosis and treatment of disease. At Marshall Medical, 4K laparoscopy is being used in general surgery, as well as gynecological, orthopedic, urology and ear, nose and throat procedures.
Dr. Thomas Downes, general surgeon at Marshall Surgical Clinic, considers 4K an advancement toward excellence in maximizing patient safety and achieving greater efficiency for surgical procedures.
"During the 26 years I have been performing laparoscopic surgeries, Marshall Medical Centers has provided the highest quality of support for its surgeons so that I and other surgeons may, in turn, provide the highest quality patient experience available,” he said. “This commendable investment in state of the art technology demonstrates their commitment to our united objective of continual improvements for the patient care process."
Dr. John Groves, a general surgeon with Surgical Associates of Marshall County, praised the 4K technology he uses every day in laparoscopic procedures because it makes surgery much easier on patients.
“Visualization is much improved,” he said. “There’s less postoperative pain. They definitely have a faster recovery. Most patients go home the same day. You’ve got to have the best equipment to be able to do that.”
Dr. Stephen Britt, also with Surgical Associates of Marshall County, was in residency when laparoscopy began and has watched optics improve with each generation.
“The better we can see, the faster and more efficiently we can do operations,” he said. “Obviously, it’s safer. It’s less time under anesthesia. Each generation is head and shoulders above the last one. We can see things that you could never see before. We can see the tiniest of blood vessels. The quality is almost better than your own vision. That’s the main thing. It is a wonderful system.”
Dr. Cynthia Monk, a surgeon with Cornerstone General Surgery Clinic in Guntersville, praised the visual capability made possible with 4K technology.
“It helps with depth perception, which is great when you’re working with different organs,” she said. “The colors are brighter, more intense. It’s exciting that this hospital continues to upgrade equipment to provide better service to the community.”
Key benefits of the system include:
* Anatomical structures are physically larger when displayed through big screen surgery.
* The entire surgical staff is focused on one central reference point.
* 4K cuts the optimal viewing distance in half when using a 55-inch display monitor.
* The VISERA 4K UHD System delivers four times the resolution, better light and twice the color as regular HD, enabling surgeons to see images with greater clarity.
* The system provides additional light to illuminate bleeding in surgical fields, visualize deep surgical cavities, and enhance the endoscopic viewing experience.
* The system also delivers more vivid shades of red and yellow for better visualization, allowing surgeons to observe fine patterns and structures with high precision while delivering higher contrast levels with more detail to support greater accuracy.
Tim Bean, director of surgery, recalled that Marshall Medical was the first hospital in the entire country to implement the Olympus/Sony system, which is the only integrated 4K surgical system of its kind.
“From my prospective as a director of surgery for over 30 years, Marshall Medical System’s commitment to providing the highest level of technology to our providers is extraordinary,” Bean said. “I have worked in at least nine different hospital settings with many health care corporations over the years, and have yet to see Marshall Medical Systems equal in its commitment to technological advances and quality of staffing.”
Marshall North’s administrator said it is the hospital system’s goal to making every improvement possible in order to provide the best healthcare.
“Marshall Medical has always tried to stay out front with ‘best-in-class’ equipment,” said Administrator Cheryl Hays. “Having so many new high tech tools only further increases accuracy in making diagnoses, doing surgical procedures and providing good patient care.”