Short rigid scope and stereo-scope designed specifically for open abdominal navigation surgery: clinical application...

We have reported the utility of an image display system using augmented reality (AR) technology in hepatobiliary surgery under laparotomy. Among several procedures, we herein report a system using a novel short rigid scope and stereo-scope, both designed specifically for open abdominal navigation surgery, and their clinical application for hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery.

The 3D reconstructed images were obtained from preoperative computed tomography data. In our specialized operating room, after paired-point matching registration, the reconstructed images are overlaid onto the operative field images captured by the short rigid scopes. The scopes, which are compact and sterilizable, can be used in the operative field. The stereo-scope provides depth information. Eight patients underwent operations using this system, including hepatectomy in two, distal pancreatectomy in three, and pancreaticoduodenectomy in three patients. The stereo-scope was used in five patients.

All eight operations were performed safely using the novel short rigid scopes, and stereo images were acquired in all five patients for whom the stereo-scope was used. The scopes were user friendly, and the intraoperative time requirement for our system was reduced compared with the conventional method.

The novel short rigid scope and stereo-scope seem to be suitable for clinical use in open abdominal navigation surgery. In hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, our novel system may improve the safety, accuracy and efficiency of operations.