image guided FESS

elcue · Oct 17, 2007

Hi Mike

Our ENT docs use it all the time and really like it. They like the realtime "roadmap" this system provides. Sinus problems are miserable; I hope thisgives your girlfriend the relief she's looking for if she decides to go ahead.

Linda

Marvie · Jan 10, 2008

Does anyone have experience with image-guided FESS cases? My girlfriend might need a FESS and I am curious about image guidance using infrared sensors.

I do many Fess procedures, and the image guided systems don't really use infrared sensors, most use CT images that load into the machine to re-create a 3D image for accuracy. She will probably feel so much better after the FESS. :hpygrp:

mcmike55 · Jan 26, 2008

I've done really only a couple. An ENT doc, who moved on, leaving us, was trained on the system, and we brought it in for a trial run.

On the ones I did, it was like this.

Pre-op, the pt had a CT of the head, the images were loaded in the system.

After asleep, positioned and prep was done, computer "dots" were placed in certain places on the head, and this large "C" shaped arm was brought over the field.

Each of the instruments also had these "dots" on them. They allowed the computer to orient the pt, and instruments with the CT images.

If you've ever seen those dancers or athletes in a unitard with computer ping pong type balls all over them so the computer can follow their movement, that's the basic idea.

Anyway, as the different instruments were advanced, the computer melted all of these inputs together, and gave 3-D images on the screen. It was really cool!

Anterior, posterior, lateral or medial, you could tell.

In addition, we had a TV camera hooked to the scope so you could actually see what the computer/CT was showing you.

In our small hospital that was too much for our needs, but it was really exciting to work with it.

Mike