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• Using laparoscopy for VP shunt placement can decrease rate of distal shunt failures

  2023 / 07 / 20

  Researchers conducted a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial at Bern University Hospital in Switzerland to compare a laparoscopic procedure with a mini-laparotomy for insertion of a peritoneal catheter during ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery. The deciding factor was the rate of shunt malfunction. Although overall shunt failure rates did not differ substantially between patients in the two surgery groups, the authors identified a significant reduction in the rate of distal (abdominal) shunt failure in patients in whom laparoscopy was used. Detailed findings of the clinical trial are reported and discussed in "Laparoscopically assisted ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement: a prospective randomized controlled trial" by Philippe Schucht, MD, Vanessa Banz, MD, PhD, and colleagues, published today online, ahead of print, in the Journal of Neurosurgery Background: Hydrocephalus is a condition in which there is excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in chambers of the brain known as ventricles. If left uncorrected, the excess CSF can exert pressure on critical brain structures, causing the patient to experience cognitive, visual, or motor deficits; seizures; or even death. Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts are frequently placed to redirect excess CSF away from the brain and into the peritoneal cavity in the abdomen, where the body can absorb it. Most VP shunts consist of a catheter that is placed in one of the ventricles in the brain, a one-way valve that draws excess CSF away from the ventricles, and a second catheter placed under the skin that carries this excess fluid down to the peritoneal cavity.

• Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery

  2023 / 07 / 20

  Laparoscopy is a form of minimally invasive or keyhole surgery. In this type of surgery, a surgeon can examine the inside of the abdomen or pelvis using small incisions to insert tools and instruments. A laparoscope, which has a camera and light at the tip is passed through the incision and used to relay images of the internal structures to a TV monitor. This type of surgery is preferred over traditional open surgery, which requires a large incision in the abdomen to expose the internal organs. Laparoscopy is associated with less pain, bleeding and scarring, a faster recovery time and a shorter hospital stay. The tools used in laparoscopic surgery have been studied and refined over the decades. One example is the TransEnterix which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October 2009. It has a SPIDER surgical system that uses flexible instruments and requires only one incision to be made in the belly button area. This allows for rapid healing after the operation. The system was developed by Dr. Richard Stac from Duke University. Other electronic tools have been developed in recent years to help surgeons optimize the surgical process. Features of these developments include visual magnification to improve the quality of images on the viewing screen; simulators that surgeons can use to practice procedures and hone their surgical skills; stabilization to eliminate vibration caused by machinery or shaking hands; and the reduced number of incisions required to operate successfully.

• China's first high-definition digital integrated laparoscopic operating room was officially launched

  2023 / 07 / 20

  Recently, the nation's first high-definition digital integrated laparoscopic operating room was officially launched at the Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital. The operating room is used by specialists. The operating room is equipped with a variety of gastrointestinal surgery-specific laparoscopic equipment and a set of remote consultation terminals. The well-equipped operation room makes gastrointestinal surgery more refined and humanized. According to Lin Feng, director of the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at the hospital, the biggest difference between the operating room and the traditional operating room is that all medical equipment can be organically linked with the physician through a centralized control system. As long as the doctor can complete the operation of surgical instruments, access to patient information, remote consultation and other tasks through the touch screen. The reporter saw five screens hanging in different positions in the operating room. Its video communication system is linked to more than 1,180 operations such as Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom. During the operation, if the surgeon encounters a problem, he can call the Internet phone at any time to ask for [foreign aid" or [help the other operating room". In addition, domestic experts only need to open the terminal at the place covered by the cell phone signal, input the surgical machine number of the operating room, and insert a 3G network card to view the operation status of the surgical image and various machines in real time and perform the surgery. Real-time remote guidance.