New Norwegian surgical technology enables surgeons to navigate via a “GPS map” when operating in the abdominal region.
12/12/2006 :: During ordinary keyhole surgery, the surgeon inserts the surgical instruments and a small video camera into the patient through a small hole. This technique is often used for operations in the abdominal region. Difficulties can, however, arise when the target area cannot be reached with the camera.
The new technology allows surgeons to look “behind” the video images, increasing operative precision. It does this by creating a three-dimensional map from x-ray and MR images of the patient. In principle, the technology works the same way as a GPS car-navigation system, which enables the driver to see his or her location on a map.
“Improved visibility of vital organs and blood vessels enables us to carry out keyhole surgery with an extra margin of safety. We can therefore use keyhole surgery much more often than before when removing cancerous growths from organs that lie awkwardly for keyhole surgery, such as the kidneys, adrenal glands and pancreas,” explains chief physician and surgeon Ronald Mårvik of St Olav’s Hospital in Trondheim.
This innovative technology has been developed by the Norwegian research foundation SINTEF in cooperation with Norwegian doctors.
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs