A New Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery System:WATO

Background:The traditional manual orthopaedic technology heavily relies on a surgeon's experience,so it certainly increases the instability of the surgery.Therefore,computer assisted orthopaedic surgery(CAOS) is becoming a hot research topic for its high accuracy and stability.We developed a new CAOS system WATO,which is mainly designed for total knee replacement(TKR).Methods:WATO system provides the interactive software for a surgeon's preoperative planning.Based on its two infrared cameras,infrared markers and infrared probe,WATO system gives a simple surgical positioning procedure of femur and tibia without additional surgery for the placement of fiducial markers.According to the reference alignment axis from positioning procedure,a surgeon can move the robot of WATO system to do accurate bone resection.Safety checking is also considered in WATO system.Results:Extensive experiments were conducted on phantoms and cadaver bones to verify the accuracy and stability of WATO system.Experimental results showed that TKR using WATO system had better performance compared with traditional and navigated TKR.Conclusion:WATO system shows its superiority in TKR,and has a broad application prospect in the future.We will develop its new functions for other orthopaedic surgery such as total hip replacement(THR).Current disadvantages such as bigger skin incision have to be resolved in the future.

Up-to-date intraoperative computer assisted solutions for liver surgery

Computer assisted surgical planning allowed for a better selection of patients,evaluation of operative strategy, appropriate volumetric measurements,identification of anatomical risks, definition of tumour resection margins and choice of surgical approach in liver oncologic resections and living donor liver transplantations. Although preoperative computer surgical analysis has been widely used in daily clinical practice, intraoperative computer assisted solutions for risk analysis and navigation in liver surgery are not widely available or still under clinical evaluation. Computer science technology can efficiently assist modern surgeons during complex liver operations, mainly by providing image guidance with individualized 2 D images and 3 D models of the various anatomical and pathological structures of interest. Intraoperative computer assisted liver surgery is particularly useful in complex parenchyma-sparing hepatectomies, for intraoperative risk analysis and for the effective treatment of colorectal metastases after neoadjuvant therapy or when they are multiple. In laparoscopic liver surgery, intraoperative computer aid is definitively more important as, apart from a restricted field of view, there is also loss of the fine haptic feedback. Intraoperative computer assisted developments face challenges that prevent their application in daily clinical practice. There is a vast variety of studies regarding intraoperative computer assisted liver surgery but there are no clear objective measurements in order to compare them and select the most effective solutions. An overview of up-to-date intraoperative computer assisted solutions for liver surgery will be discussed.

Managerial perspectives of scaling up robotic-assisted surgery in healthcare systems:A systematic literature review

Objectives Robotic-assisted surgery(RAS)is a minimally invasive technique practiced in multiple specialties.Standard training is essential for the acquisition of RAS skills.The cost of RAS is considered to be high,which makes it a burden for institutes and unaffordable for patients.This systematic literature review(SLR)focused on the various RAS training methods applied in different surgical specialties,as well as the cost elements of RAS,and was to summarize the opportunities and challenges associated with scaling up RAS.Methods An SLR was carried out based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines.The PubMed,EBSCO,and Scopus databases were searched for reports from January 2018 through January 2024.Full-text reviews and research articles in the English language from Asia-Pacific countries were included.Articles that outlined training and costs associated with RAS were chosen.Results The most common training system is the da Vinci system.The simulation technique,which includes dry-lab,wet-lab,and virtual reality training,was found to be a common and important practice.The cost of RAS encompasses the installation and maintenance costs of the robotic system,the operation theatre rent,personnel cost,surgical instrument and material cost,and other miscellaneous charges.The synthesis of SLR revealed the challenges and opportunities regarding RAS training and cost.Conclusions The results of this SLR will help stakeholders such as decision-makers,influencers,and end users of RAS to understand the significance of training and cost in scaling up RAS from a managerial perspective.For any healthcare innovation to reach a vast population,cost-effectiveness and standard training are crucial.

Trend of robot-assisted surgery system in gastrointestinal and liver surgery: A bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND Robot-assisted gastrointestinal and liver surgery has been an important development direction in the field of surgery in recent years and it is also one of the fastest developing and most concerning fields in surgical operations.AIM To illustrate the major areas of research and forward-looking directions over the past twenty-six years.METHODS Using the Web of Science Core Collection database,a comprehensive review of scholarly articles pertaining to robot-assisted gastrointestinal and liver surgery was researched out between 2000 and 2023.We used Citespace(Version 6.2.4)and Bibliometrix package(Version 4.3.0)to visualize the analysis of all publications including country,institutional affiliations,authors,and keywords.RESULTS In total,346 articles were retrieved.Surgical Endoscopy had with the largest number of publications and was cited in this field.The United States was a core research country in this field.Yonsei University was the most productive institution.The current focus of this field is on rectal surgery,long-term prognosis,perioperative management,previous surgical experience,and the learning curve.CONCLUSION The scientific interest in robot-assisted gastrointestinal and liver surgery has experienced a significant rise since 1997.This study provides new perspectives and ideas for future research in this field.

Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision during Surgery: Discussing Laparoscopic Images with ChatGPT4—Preliminary Results

Introduction: Ultrafast latest developments in artificial intelligence (ΑΙ) have recently multiplied concerns regarding the future of robotic autonomy in surgery. However, the literature on the topic is still scarce. Aim: To test a novel AI commercially available tool for image analysis on a series of laparoscopic scenes. Methods: The research tools included OPENAI CHATGPT 4.0 with its corresponding image recognition plugin which was fed with a list of 100 laparoscopic selected snapshots from common surgical procedures. In order to score reliability of received responses from image-recognition bot, two corresponding scales were developed ranging from 0 - 5. The set of images was divided into two groups: unlabeled (Group A) and labeled (Group B), and according to the type of surgical procedure or image resolution. Results: AI was able to recognize correctly the context of surgical-related images in 97% of its reports. For the labeled surgical pictures, the image-processing bot scored 3.95/5 (79%), whilst for the unlabeled, it scored 2.905/5 (58.1%). Phases of the procedure were commented in detail, after all successful interpretations. With rates 4 - 5/5, the chatbot was able to talk in detail about the indications, contraindications, stages, instrumentation, complications and outcome rates of the operation discussed. Conclusion: Interaction between surgeon and chatbot appears to be an interesting frontend for further research by clinicians in parallel with evolution of its complex underlying infrastructure. In this early phase of using artificial intelligence for image recognition in surgery, no safe conclusions can be drawn by small cohorts with commercially available software. Further development of medically-oriented AI software and clinical world awareness are expected to bring fruitful information on the topic in the years to come.

Enhanced recovery after surgery in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery

BACKGROUND This study was designed to investigate the clinical outcomes of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)in the perioperative period in elderly patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer(NSCLC).AIM To investigate the potential enhancement of video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS)in postoperative recovery in elderly patients with NSCLC.METHODS We retrospectively analysed the clinical data of 85 elderly NSCLC patients who underwent ERAS(the ERAS group)and 327 elderly NSCLC patients who received routine care(the control group)after VATS at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital between May 2015 and April 2017.After propensity score matching of baseline data,we analysed the postoperative stay,total hospital expenses,postoperative 48-h pain score,and postoperative complication rate for the 2 groups of patients who underwent lobectomy or sublobar resection.RESULTS After propensity score matching,ERAS significantly reduced the postoperative hospital stay(6.96±4.16 vs 8.48±4.18 d,P=0.001)and total hospital expenses(48875.27±18437.5 vs 55497.64±21168.63 CNY,P=0.014)and improved the satisfaction score(79.8±7.55 vs 77.35±7.72,P=0.029)relative to those for routine care.No significant between-group difference was observed in postoperative 48-h pain score(4.68±1.69 vs 5.28±2.1,P=0.090)or postoperative complication rate(21.2%vs 27.1%,P=0.371).Subgroup analysis showed that ERAS significantly reduced the postoperative hospital stay and total hospital expenses and increased the satisfaction score of patients who underwent lobectomy but not of patients who underwent sublobar resection.CONCLUSION ERAS effectively reduced the postoperative hospital stay and total hospital expenses and improved the satisfaction score in the perioperative period for elderly NSCLC patients who underwent lobectomy but not for patients who underwent sublobar resection.

Automatic Bone Surface Restoration for Markerless Computer-Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery

An automatic markerless knee tracking and registration algorithm has been proposed in the literature to avoid the marker insertion required by conventional computer-assisted knee surgery,resulting in a shorter and less invasive surgical workflow.However,such an algorithm considers intact femur geometry only.The bone surface modification is inevitable due to intra-operative intervention.The mismatched correspondences will degrade the reliability of registered target pose.To solve this problem,this work proposed a supervised deep neural network to automatically restore the surface of processed bone.The network was trained on a synthetic dataset that consists of real depth captures of a model leg and simulated realistic femur cutting.According to the evaluation on both synthetic data and real-time captures,the registration quality can be effectively improved by surface reconstruction.The improvement in tracking accuracy is only evident over test data,indicating the need for future enhancement of the dataset and network.

Indocyanine green:The guide to safer and more effective surgery

In this editorial we comment on the article by Kalayarasan and co-workers published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.The authors present an interesting review on the use of indocyanine green fluo-rescence in different aspects of abdominal surgery.They also highlight future perspectives of the use of indocyanine green in mini-invasive surgery.Indo-cyanine green,used for fluorescence imaging,has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and is safe for use in humans.It can be administered in-travenously or intra-arterially.Since its advent,there have been several advance-ments in the applications of indocyanine green,especially in the surgical field,such as intraoperative mapping and biopsy of sentinel lymph node,measurement of hepatic function prior to resection,in neurosurgical cases to detect vascular anomalies,in cardiovascular cases for patency and assessment of vascular ab-normalities,in predicting healing following amputations,in helping visualization of hepatobiliary anatomy and blood vessels,in reconstructive surgery,to assess flap viability and for the evaluation of tissue perfusion following major trauma and burns.For these reasons,the intraoperative use of indocyanine green has become common in a variety of surgical specialties and transplant surgery.Co-lorectal surgery has just lately begun to adopt this technique,particularly for perfusion visualization to prevent anastomotic leakage.The regular use of in-docyanine green coupled with fluorescence angiography has recently been pro-posed as a feasible tool to help improve patient outcomes.Using the best available data,it has been shown that routine use of indocyanine green in colorectal surgery reduces the rates of anastomotic leak.The use of indocyanine green is proven to be safe,feasible,and effective in both elective and emergency scenarios.However,additional robust evidence from larger-scale,high-quality studies is essential before incorporating indocyanine green guided surgery into standard practice.

Clinical Study of Tianji Robotic-Assisted Surgery for Upper Cervical Spine Fractures

Object: To compare the safety, clinical efficacy, and complication rate of “Tianji” robot-assisted surgery with traditional open surgery in the treatment of cervical vertebrae fracture. Methods: 60 patients with upper cervical vertebrae fracture admitted to Baise People’s Hospital between November 2018 and April 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Among these patients, 29 underwent “Tianji” robot-assisted surgery (Robot group), and 31 underwent traditional C-arm fluoroscopy-assisted open surgery (Open group). Statistical analysis of the data was performed using SPSS 27.0 software to compare general data (gender, age, BMI), preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, neck disability index (NDI), intraoperative blood loss, accuracy of screw placement on imaging, and the number of complications in both groups for comprehensive evaluation. A P value < 0.05 was deemed to have achieved statistical significance. Results: There was no significant difference in preoperative VAS scores between the two groups (Robot group: 8.34 ± 0.61;Open group: 8.26 ± 0.68, P = 0.317). There was also no significant difference in VAS scores at 1 week postoperatively (Robot group: 6.90 ± 0.31;Open group: 6.94 ± 0.36, P = 0.3237). Preoperative NDI scores showed no significant difference between the two groups (Robot group: 43.31 ± 2.67;Open group: 43.84 ± 2.67, P = 0.2227), and the difference in NDI scores at 1 week postoperatively was also not significant (Robot group: 35.69 ± 4.24;Open group: 37.35 ± 3.48, P = 0.0509). Intraoperative blood loss in the Robot group was significantly lower than in the Open group (246.21 ± 209 ml vs 380.65 ± 328.04 ml, P = 0.0308), with a statistically significant difference. The operation time was longer in the Robot group (3.75 ± 0.74 h) compared to the Open group (2.74 ± 0.86 h). In terms of screw placement accuracy, the Robot group had a higher accuracy rate for Class A screws compared to the Open group (102 screws vs 94 screws, P = 0.0487), and the accuracy rate for Class B screws was also higher in the Robot group (13 screws vs 29 screws, P = 0.0333), with both differences being statistically significant. There was no significant difference in the number of complications between the two groups (Robot group: 8 cases;Open group: 10 cases, P = 0.6931). Conclusion: Patients treated with “Tianji” robot-assisted surgery for upper cervical vertebrae fracture had lower intraoperative blood loss and higher screw placement accuracy compared to those undergoing traditional C-arm fluoroscopy-assisted open surgery, indicating that this robot-assisted surgery can effectively reduce intraoperative blood loss and improve screw placement accuracy.

Computer-assisted Surgery for Scaphoid Fracture

The computer-assisted surgery (CAS)has significantly improved the accuracy, reliability and outcomes of traumatic,spinal,nerve surgery and many other operations with a less invasive way.The application of CAS for scaphoid fractures remains experimental.The related studies are scanty and most of them are cadaver researches.Some intrinsic defects from the registration procedure,scan and immobilization of limbs may inevitably result in deviations. Some deviations become more obvious with operations of small bones (such as scaphoid)although they are acceptable for spine and other orthopedic surgeries.We reviewed the current literatures on the applications of CAS for scaphoid operation and summarized technical principles,scan and registration methods,immobilization of limbs and their outcomes.On the basis of the data,we analyzed the limitations of this technique and envisioned its future development.

New direction for surgery:Super minimally invasive surgery

The top goal of modern medicine is treating disease without destroying organ structures and making patients as healthy as they were before their sickness.Minimally invasive surgery(MIS)has dominated the surgical realm because of its lesser invasiveness.However,changes in anatomical structures of the body and reconstruction of internal organs or different organs are common after traditional surgery or MIS,decreasing the quality of life of patients post-operation.Thus,I propose a new treatment mode,super MIS(SMIS),which is defined as“curing a disease or lesion which used to be treated by MIS while preserving the integrity of the organs”.In this study,I describe the origin,definition,operative channels,advantages,and future perspectives of SMIS.

Comparing short-term outcomes of robot-assisted and conventional laparoscopic total mesorectal excision surgery for rectal cancer in elderly patients

BACKGROUND Da Vinci Robotics-assisted total mesorectal excision(TME)surgery for rectal cancer is becoming more widely used.There is no strong evidence that roboticassisted surgery and laparoscopic surgery have similar outcomes in elderly patients with TME for rectal cancer.AIM To determine the improved oncological outcomes and short-term efficacy of robot-assisted surgery in elderly patients undergoing TME surgery.METHODS A retrospective study of the clinical pathology and follow-up of elderly patients who underwent TME surgery at the Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology at the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine was conducted from March 2020 through September 2023.The patients were divided into a robotassisted group(the R-TME group)and a laparoscopic group(the L-TME group),and the short-term efficacy of the two groups was compared.RESULTS There were 45 elderly patients(≥60 years)in the R-TME group and 50 elderly patients(≥60 years)in the L-TME group.There were no differences in demographics,conversion rates,or postoperative complication rates.The L-TME group had a longer surgical time than the R-TME group[145(125,187.5)vs 180(148.75,206.25)min,P=0.005),and the first postoperative meal time in the L-TME group was longer than that in the R-TME(4 vs 3 d,P=0.048).Among the sex and body mass index(BMI)subgroups,the R-TME group had better out-comes than did the L-TME group in terms of operation time(P=0.042)and intraoperative assessment of bleeding(P=0.042).In the high BMI group,catheter removal occurred earlier in the R-TME group than in the L-TME group(3 vs 4 d,P=0.001),and autonomous voiding function was restored.CONCLUSION The curative effect and short-term efficacy of robot-assisted TME surgery for elderly patients with rectal cancer are similar to those of laparoscopic TME surgery;however,robotic-assisted surgery has better short-term outcomes for individuals with risk factors such as obesity and pelvic stenosis.Optimizing the learning curve can shorten the operation time,reduce the recovery time of gastrointestinal function,and improve the prognosis.

Retinal vascular diameter changes assessed with a computer-assisted software after strabismus surgery

AIM: To quantitatively investigate the retinal vascular diameter changes, analyzing the early and long-term effects on the retinal circulation, with 6-month follow-up. METHODS: Patients underwent horizontal strabismus surger y were enrolled prospectively. Retinal vessel diameters on color fundus photographs were assessed before and 1, 7 d, 6 mo after surgery, using a computerassisted quantitative assessment software. To evaluate the retinal vascular caliber changes, retinal vascular diameters were calculated by means of the Parr–Hubbard formula as the central retinal arteriolar equivalent(CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalent(CRVE). The arteriovenous ratio(AVR) was calculated as CRAE divided by CRVE. RESULTS: A total of 154 eyes of 104 consecutive patients were included. Compared with the data before surgery(121.55±24.67), the mean CRAE(131.18±28.29) significantly increased 1 d af ter surger y(P=0.003), but went back to baseline level at 7 d(118.89±30.35, P=0.15), and 6 mo(123.22±15.32, P=0.60), so did the AVR(P<0.001, P=0.08, P=0.07). As for the mean CRVE, there was no significant difference between those four time points(172.43±33.25, 175.57±36.98, 174.03±40.18, 174.86±20.46, P=1.00). CONCLUSION: Strabismus surgery on both lateral and media rectus muscles, or single media rectus muscle may increase retinal blood flow during the early postoperative period, but would return to normal later. The number of transected anterior ciliary arteries rather might be the main cause of retinal hemodynamic changes early after strabismus surgery.

Application of a novel computer-assisted surgery system in percutaneous nephrolithotomy:A controlled study

BACKGROUND Most complex renal stones are managed primarily with percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PCNL).However,PCNL is still a great challenge for surgeons because of poor comprehension on complex adjacent structures.Novel techniques are required to assist in planning and navigation.AIM To apply and evaluate the Hisense computer-assisted surgery(CAS)system in PCNL.METHODS A total of 60 patients with complex renal stones were included.Thirty patients in the CAS group had three-dimensional(3 D)virtual models constructed with the CAS system.The model assisted in planning and navigating in the CAS system.Thirty patients in the control group planned and navigated as standard PCNL,without the application of the CAS system.Success rate of one attempt,operation time,initial stone-free rate,decrease in hemoglobin,and complications were collected and analyzed.RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences in the baseline characteristics or planning characteristics.The success rate of one puncturing attempt(90%vs 67%,P=0.028)and the initial stone-free rate(87%vs 63%,P=0.037)were significantly higher in the CAS group.However,there were no statistically significant differences in the operation time(89.20±29.60 min vs 92.33±33.08 min,P=0.859)or in the decrease in hemoglobin(11.07±8.32 g/L vs 9.03±11.72 g/L,P=0.300)between the CAS group and the control group.No statistically significant differences in the incidence of complications(Clavien-Dindo grade≥2)were found.CONCLUSION Compared with standard PCNL,CAS-assisted PCNL had advantages in terms of the puncturing success rate and stone-free rate.The Hisense CAS System was recommended to assist in preoperative planning and intraoperative navigation for an intuitive,precise and convenient PCNL.

Robotic assisted andrological surgery

The introduction of the operative microscope for andrological surgery in the 1970s provided enhanced magnification and accuracy, unparalleled to any previous visual loop or magnification techniques. This technology revolutionized techniques for microsurgery in andrology. Today, we may be on the verge of a second such revolution by the incorporation of robotic assisted platforms for microsurgery in andrology. Robotic assisted microsurgery is being utilized to a greater degree in andrology and a number of other microsurgical fields, such as ophthalmology, hand surgery, plastics and reconstructive surgery. The potential advantages of robotic assisted platforms include elimination of tremor, improved stability, surgeon ergonomics, scalability of motion, multi-input visual interphases with up to three simultaneous visual views, enhanced magnification, and the ability to manipulate three surgical instruments and cameras simultaneously. This review paper begins with the historical development of robotic microsurgery. It then provides an in-depth presentation of the technique and outcomes of common robotic microsurgical andrological procedures, such as vasectomy reversal, subinguinal varicocelectomy, targeted spermatic cord denervation （for chronic orchialgia） and robotic assisted microsurgical testicular sperm extraction （microTESE）.

Computer-Assisted Surgery for Mandibular Reconstruction Using a Patient-Specific Titanium Mesh Tray and Particulate Cancellous Bone and Marrow

Craniomaxillofacial surgery is difficult due to the complexity of the regional anatomy. Computer-assisted surgery is a promising tool aiming to improve the safety and precision of such surgery. A computer-assisted surgical navigation approach for reconstruction of mandibular defects using a patient-specific titanium mesh tray and particulate cancellous bone and marrow (PCBM) harvested from bilateral anterior ilia is proposed. This case report involves a large multicystic ameloblastoma affecting the right mandible of a 31-year-old male patient. Following detailed clinical examination, radiological interpretation, and histopathological diagnosis, computer-assisted surgical simulation with a virtual 3-dimensional (3-D) model was designed using surgical planning software based on the pre-operative computed tomography data. Long-span segmental resection of the mandible was planned, and the defect was analyzed for reconstruction using a patient-specific reconstruction titanium mesh tray mediated with computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) techniques. During the actual surgery, the ultrasonic bone cutting instrument in the surgeon’s hand was connected to the navigation system to touch an anatomical position on the patient. Therefore, osteotomies were performed finely and smoothly according to the navigation images of the cutting bone line by sequentially moving the instrument. Finally, a CAD/CAM-mediated titanium mesh tray condensed by PCBM was adapted to the remaining mandibular fragments. Six months postoperatively, the patient had a good mandibular configuration and facial contour. Integration of different technologies, such as software planning and 3-D surgical simulation, combined with intraoperative navigation and CAD/CAM techniques, provides safe and precise mandibular reconstruction surgery.

Pulmonary embolism after shoulder surgery:Is it a real threat?

Pulmonary embolism(PE)is a rare but devastating complication of shoulder surgery.Apart from increased morbidity and mortality rates,it may significantly impair postoperative recovery and functional outcome.Its frequency accounts for up to 5.7%of all shoulder surgery procedures with a higher occurrence in women and patients older than 70 years.It is most commonly associated with thrombophilia,diabetes mellitus,obesity,smoking,hypertension,and a history of malignancy.PE usually occurs secondary to upper or lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis(DVT).However,in rare cases,the source of the thrombi cannot be determined.Prophylaxis for PE following shoulder surgery remains a topic of debate,and the standard of care does not routinely require prophylactic medication for DVT prophylaxis.Early ambulation and elastic stockings are important preventative measures for DVT of the lower extremity and medical agents such as aspirin,low-molecular-weight heparin,and vitamin K antagonists are indicated for high-risk patients,long-lasting operations,or concomitant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.The most common symptoms of PE include chest pain and shortness of breath,but PE can also be asymptomatic in patients with intrinsic tolerance of hypoxia.Patients with DVT may also present with swelling and pain of the respective extremity.The treatment of PE includes inpatient or outpatient anticoagulant therapy if the patient is hemodynamically unstable or stable,respectively.Hemodynamic instability may require transfer to the intensive care unit,and cardiovascular arrest can be implicated in fatal events.An important issue for patients with PE in the postoperative period after shoulder surgery is residual stiffness due to a delay in rehabilitation and a prolonged hospital stay.Early physiotherapy and range-of-motion exercises do not adversely affect the prognosis of PE and are highly recommended to preserve shoulder mobility and function.

Corneal astigmatic outcomes after femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery combined with surface penetrating arcuate keratotomies

AIM:To evaluate corneal astigmatic outcomes of femtosecond laser-assisted arcuate keratotomies(FAKs)combined with femtosecond-laser assisted cataract surgery(FLACS)over 12mo follow-up.METHODS:Totally 145 patients with bilateral cataracts and no ocular co-morbidities were recruited to a singlecentre,single-masked,prospective randomized controlled trial(RCT)comparing two monofocal hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses.Eyes with corneal astigmatism(CA)of>0.8 dioptres(D)received unpaired,unopened,surface penetrating FAKs at the time of FLACS.Visual acuity,subjective refraction and Scheimpflug tomography were recorded at 1,6,and 12mo.Alpins vectoral analyses were performed.RESULTS:Fifty-one patients(61 eyes),mean age 68.2±9.6y[standard deviation(SD)],received FAKs.Sixty eyes were available for analysis,except at 12mo when 59 attended.There were no complications due to FAKs.Mean pre-operative CA was 1.13±0.20 D.There was a reduction of astigmatism at all post-operative visits(residual CA 1mo:0.85±0.42 D,P=0.0001;6mo:0.86±0.35 D,P=0001;and 12mo:0.90±0.39,P=0.0001).Alpins indices remained stable over 12mo.Overall,the cohort was under-corrected at all time points.At 12mo,61%of eyes were within±15 degrees of pre-operative astigmatic meridian.CONCLUSION:Unpaired unopened penetrating FAKs combined with on-axis phacoemulsification are safe but minimally effective.CA is largely under-corrected in this cohort using an existing unmodified nomogram.The effect of arcuate keratotomies on CA remained stable over 12mo.

The growth of computer-assisted(robotic)surgery in urology 2000e2014:The role of Asian surgeons

Objective:A major role in the establishment of computer-assisted robotic surgery(CARS)can be traced to the work of Mani Menon at Vattikuti Urology Institute(VUI),and of many surgeons of Asian origin.The success of robotic surgery in urology has spurred its acceptance in other surgical disciplines,improving patient comfort and disease outcomes and helping the industrial growth.The present paper gives an overview of the progress and development of robotic surgery,especially in the field of Urology;and to underscore some of the seminal work done by the VUI and Asian surgeons in the development of robotic surgery in urology in the US and around the world.Methods:PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases were searched for publications from 2000 through June 2014,using algorithms based on keywords“robotic surgery”,“prostate”,“kidney”,“adrenal”,“bladder”,“reconstruction”,and“kidney transplant”.Inclusion criteria used were published full articles,book chapters,clinical trials,prospective and retrospective series,and systematic reviews/meta-analyses written in English language.Studies from Asian institutions or with the first/senior author of Asian origin were included for discussion,and focused on techniques of robotic surgery,relevant patient outcomes and associated demographic trends.Results:A total of 58 articles selected for final review highlight the important strides made by robots in urology,from robotic radical prostatectomy in 2000 to robotic kidney transplant in 2014.In the hands of an experienced robotic surgeon,it has been demonstrated to improve functional patient outcomes and minimize perioperative complications compared to open surgery,especially in urologic oncology and reconstructive urology.With increasing surgeon proficiency,the benefits of robotic surgery were consistently seen across different surgical disciplines,patient populations,and strata.

Comparing the intraoperative complication rate of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery to traditional phacoemulsification

AIM: To compare the complication rate of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery(FLACS) and traditional phacoemulsification for the first 18 mo of FLACS use at a private surgical center in Hawaii.METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted from January 2012 to June 2013. The first 273 consecutive eyes receiving FLACS and 553 eyes receiving traditional phacoemulsification were examined.All surgeries were performed at a single surgical center in Hawaii. The presence of intraoperative complications was used as the main outcome measure. Approval was obtained from the institutional review board of the University of Hawaii.RESULTS: The overall complication rate for FLACS was 1.8%, while that of the traditional procedure was5.8%(P 【0.05). A majority of the surgeons(80%) had a lower complication rate while using FLACS.CONCLUSION: FLACS is comparable in safety, if not safer, than traditional cataract surgery when performed by qualified cataract surgeons on carefully selected patients.