Studies in health technology and informatics
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2008
ReviewDiversity in preoperative-assessment data collection, a literature review.
The appropriate anesthetic techniques and care during and after operation rely on data gathered during the preoperative assessment. Because various people are involved, standardization of this process is important. This paper provides a systematic literature review about which data items are collected in the preoperative assessment. ⋯ Our study showed a high diversity of data items in the preoperative assessment. Because of the diversity of patients and treatment options available one undisputed preoperative assessment data set is hard to define. However, to solve the problem of exchangeability of the information at least anesthesiologists should use a same core set of data.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2008
Image registration assists novice operators in ultrasound assessment of abdominal trauma.
Transcutaneous ultrasound imaging may be used to detect abdominal hemorrhage in the field setting. The Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) examination was developed to characterize blunt abdominal trauma and has been shown to be effective for assessing penetrating trauma as well. However, it is unlikely that a minimally trained operator could perform a diagnostic examination. ⋯ The operator will be directed through the examination by prompts from a computer system or outside expert, potentially with knowledge of the anatomy of the injured patient. The key elements of the tele-operated FAST exam capability have been demonstrated; the exam is performed with real-time guidance from anatomic images registered to the body. It appears likely that Image Registration will assist hemorrhage detection at the point of injury or in the initial evaluation by a trauma response team.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2008
Effects of repeated CPR training in virtual worlds on medical students' performance.
We report on a study that investigates the relationship between repeated training of teams managing a medical emergency (CPR) in a Virtual World and performance outcome measures in a group of 12 medical students. The focus of the training was on individual actions, but also on interaction and behavior in the team. ⋯ Although a pilot study, we found clear indications of improved performance related to reduced number of errors and an increased CPR efficiency. This type of educational technology could be expanded to other groups for a similar purpose because of its easiness to use, adaptability and interactivity.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2008
Case ReportsOur experience with virtual craniomaxillofacial surgery: planning, transference and validation.
Clinical application of virtual craniomaxillofacial surgery (VCMS) planning is demonstrated with four typical cases. An integral component to success is transferring the surgical plan to the operating environment within a reasonable time frame through the design and fabrication of surgical guides and implants.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2008
Optimizing a head-tracked stereo display system to guide hepatic tumor ablation.
Radio frequency ablation is a minimally invasive intervention that introduces -- under 2D ultrasound guidance and via a needle-like probe -- high-frequency electrical current into non-resectable hepatic tumors. These recur mostly on the periphery, indicating errors in probe placement. Hypothesizing that a contextually correct 3D display will aid targeting and decrease recurrence, we have developed a prototype guidance system based on a head-tracked 3D display and motion-tracked instruments. ⋯ Initial candidates were an augmented reality see-through head-mounted display and a virtual reality "fish tank" system. We describe the system requirements and explain how we arrived at the final decision. We show the operational guidance system in use on phantoms and animals.