Objective: Microsurgery using conventional optical microscopes or surgical loupes features a limited field of view and imposes a serious strain on surgeons especially during long surgeries. Here we advocate the micro- and macro-borderless surgery (MMBS) using a novel high-resolution (4K) three-dimensional (3D) video system. This study aimed to confirm the applicability of this concept in several surgical procedures.
Methods: We evaluated the possible use and efficacy of MMBS in the following experiments in porcine subjects. Experiment 1 (non-inferiority test) consisted of dissection and anastomosis of carotid artery, portal vein, proper hepatic artery, and pancreatoduodenectomy with surgical loupe versus MMBS. Experiment 2 (feasibility test) consisted of intra-abdominal and intra-thoracic smaller arteries anastomosed by MMBS as a pre-clinical setting. Experiment 3 (challenge on new surgery) consisted of orthotopic liver transplantation of the graft from a donor after circulatory death maintained by machine perfusion. Circulation of the cardiac sheet with a vascular bed in experiment 2 and liver graft during preservation in experiment 3 was evaluated with indocyanine green fluorescence imaging equipped with this system.
Results: Every procedure was completed by MMBS. The operator and assistants could share the same field of view in heads-up status. The focal depth was deep enough not to be disturbed by pulsing blood vessels or respiratory movement. The tissue circulation could be evaluated using fluorescence imaging of this system.
Conclusions: MMBS using the novel system is applicable to various surgeries and valuable for both fine surgical procedures and high-level surgical education.