Australian surgical first at St Andrew’s
SURGEONS at St Andrew’s Toowoomba Hospital have become the first in Australia to operate with 4K quality video cameras during keyhole surgery.
The hospital is the first in Australia to purchase the latest Olympus 4K Surgical System, which provides the highest quality images available for laparoscopic surgery.
The new surgical system, valued at more than $250,000, delivers four times the detail of current high-definition imaging systems, providing surgeons with the image quality needed to operate more precisely and safely.
In addition, the colour reproduction is remarkable, allowing greater accuracy, speed and precision.
Laparoscopic, or keyhole surgery, is the preferred (where possible) surgical technique that is used to examine or operate on a patient through small incisions in the body.
A thin, lighted tube with a camera on the end is used to examine the internal organs or structures.
Laparoscopic surgery has many benefits including fewer side effects and risks, along with a shorter recovery time than
traditional surgery. Dr David Morrisey, ear, nose and throat surgeon at St Andrew’s Toowoomba, was one of the first surgeons to use the new 4K equipment.
“The 4K Olympus Visera system has provided vastly improved patient safety for people undergoing sinus and nasal surgery as it allows surgeons like myself, much better visualisation,” he said.
“This enables more complete, safer and efficient surgery for those with nasal and sinus problems and greatly enhances their care.”
The new equipment has also been beneficial for the St Andrew’s Hospital gynaecology surgical team.