"TIPS" and Technical Nuances for Digital Illustration in Neurointerventional Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Illustration
• Digital Artistry

Background:

• Traditional medical illustrations are time-consuming and difficult to update for complex fields like neurointerventional surgery.
• Existing methods lack efficiency in depicting dynamic changes in surgical procedures and device manipulations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel method for creating digital illustrations (DIs) for neurointerventional surgery using iPad applications.
• To demonstrate the utility of DIs in representing complex neurointerventional procedures and facilitating knowledge sharing.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the iPad-exclusive Procreate application for creating DIs.
• Developed dedicated "digital pens" for specific endovascular devices (coils, catheters, stents).
• Focused on creating straightforward representations of procedures and temporal changes.

Main Results:

• Digital illustrations effectively depict complex neurointerventional procedures and device configurations.
• DIs allow for easy visualization of changes over time and surgical scene modifications.
• The method proved versatile for various endovascular devices and complex structures.

Conclusions:

• Digital illustrations offer a more efficient and versatile alternative to traditional methods in neurointerventional surgery.
• DIs facilitate enhanced learning, preoperative/postoperative reviews, and global sharing of surgical techniques.
• The application of DIs extends beyond neurointervention to craniotomy surgery and other medical specialties for record-keeping.