[SIMULATION AND NAVIGATION OF PULMONARY SEGMENTECTOMY WITH HOMEMADE SOFTWARE]

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Medical Imaging
• Computational Anatomy

Background:

• Pulmonary segmentectomy involves complex 3D bronchial and vascular variations.
• Pre-surgical simulation can optimize operative planning, potentially reducing surgical duration and complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce novel software for creating simplified 3D anatomical models for pulmonary segmentectomy simulation.
• To explore the application of this software in pre-surgical planning and navigation.

Main Methods:

• Development of custom software to reconstruct 3D lung structures (bronchi, vessels, tumors) from computed tomography (CT) data using a surface-rendering method.
• Interactive input of anatomical data (cylinder points, diameters) and sharing capabilities via internet modeler shareware.
• Analysis of data from over 500 surgical cases utilizing the simulation software.

Main Results:

• The software generates simplified 3D models (cylinders with branches) for pre-surgical simulation.
• The system allows for continuous data input and modification of anatomical structures.
• Surface-rendering techniques are employed for 3D reconstruction, differing from conventional volume-rendering methods.

Conclusions:

• Customized 3D simulation software offers a viable tool for pulmonary segmentectomy planning.
• The developed methods facilitate detailed pre-operative visualization and data sharing, potentially enhancing surgical efficiency.
• Future trends include further applications in simulated surgery, navigation, and analysis of operative outcomes.