jun 16, 2021
The vascular surgeons of the ETZ (Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital) in Tilburg will from now on use a new 3D imaging technique for operations on the blood vessels, which means that the procedure can be followed very accurately on a screen. “The live images help us navigate the blood vessels and place the stents in exactly the right place.” Vascular surgeon Jan Heyligers is enthusiastic about the new software that is being used for the first time in a Dutch hospital.
Heyligers effortlessly sums up the benefits of working with Cydar EV during endovascular surgery: “Thanks to the advanced technology, the operating time is shorter and we use less contrast medium. In addition, the radiation burden for patients and surgery team is halved”. Vascular surgeons can operate more accurately using Cydar EV. “As a result, the patient runs less risk of complications, such as the incorrect placement of vascular stents,” says Heyligers. “In addition, we can sometimes opt for less invasive treatments by simply having two puncture holes: one in the groin and one near the armpit. And a small cut on the other groin. That is the alternative to a large aortic aneurysm surgery in which the abdomen and chest must be opened. As a result, the patient can go home much faster and runs less risk during the operation.”
Slim platform
Cydar EV is a smart, image-driven platform that provides live detailed images of the patient’s vessels. A patient’s CT scan taken before surgery is projected over the X-ray images during surgery. As soon as the smart system recognizes two or more vertebrae from the stored CT scan, the blood vessels are automatically colored and projected onto the X-ray screen. As a result, the surgeon can continuously see exactly what he is doing in the patient’s vascular system on a screen above the operating table. “It’s like using a car navigation system to map out the best route during a drive,” Heyligers explains. The images of Cydar EV are continuously automatically aligned with how the patient lies on the operating table and any changes in his anatomy due to already performed surgical actions. This ensures that the surgeon always sees an up-to-date 3D image of the operation that is currently being performed.
Power of the cloud
The images are stored securely in the cloud during the operation. There they are converted into 3D images using the world’s most powerful computers, which are a combination of the live X-ray images from the operating room and the CT scan taken in preparation for surgery. “This is only possible by using the power of the cloud,” says Heyligers. “All data is stored and analyzed anonymously. Cydar EV learns from this again, making the software ever smarter. The knowledge gained is subsequently shared internationally.”
Updates
Cydar EV not only offers vascular surgeons great advantages now, because Heyligers also expects a lot from the updates that the system offers in the future. “In the near future it will be possible to use it not only during the operation, but also when planning operations. The software analyzes every operation according to smart algorithms. Just like with mobile phones and certain electric cars, you automatically receive a new software update that makes the system more efficient and faster. That benefits patients and practitioners.” Approximately 100 to 150 aortic operations are performed in the ETZ each year. This number is expected to increase further in the coming years.
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