What Is Computer Assisted Surgery?
CAS refers to a surgical concept that involves
the use of computer technology. It is also referred to as computer aided
surgery, computer assisted intervention, and surgical navigation.
How Does It Work?
CAS combines the precision of computer technology
and the skill of a surgeon. The advances in health field have made it possible
for medical professionals to use various technologies like 3D imaging and
real-time sensing to plan and execute surgical procedures.
In CAS, a virtual 3D model of the anatomical
region of the patient to be operated is produced using specialized software.
The surgeon examines the 3D model, assesses the case, and plans the surgery
carefully.
In many cases, specialized software programs are
used to create a moving digital image of the patient's anatomical region as it
is moved during the surgery. The image is processed in real time and it serves
as a roadmap for the surgical procedure. It also guides the placement of
surgical instrument during the surgery. The availability of such real-time data
helps the surgeon enormously and allows him to complete the surgery
successfully.
What Are the Applications of Computer Assisted
Surgery?
Computer technology is used in a variety of
standard as well as high precision surgical procedures including ENT surgery,
orthopedic surgery, oral and facial surgery, visceral surgery, radiosurgery,
and neurosurgery.
What Are the Benefits of CAS?
CAS is one of the important reasons behind the
advances in health field, particularly in terms of surgical procedures, in the
past few decades. There are a number of reasons why CAS is widely gaining
recognition among medical professionals all over the world.
* It creates a virtual three-dimensional model of
the anatomical region that is about to be operated. It allows surgeons to plan
and simulate the surgery in a virtual, preoperative environment. It reduces the
difficulties and risks associated with the surgical procedure significantly.
* It increases the accuracy of the surgical
procedure considerably, which means smaller incisions, less pain, less
scarring, shorter hospital stay, and shorter recovery time.
* It plays a key role in joint replacement
surgeries that require precise implant placement. In a non-CAS surgery, there
is always a risk of incorrect prosthetic alignment due to human error. In a CAS
surgery, there are no such risks as the surgeon can use real-time data to
correct the procedure intra-operatively and make sure the prosthetic is
positioned perfectly.
* It increases the precision and accuracy of
surgical cuts. It lowers blood loss and reduces the number of embolic
occurrences.
* It offers valuable real-time data to the
surgeon during the planning, execution, and follow-up of the surgery. It
reduces the risk of preoperative, intra-operative, and post-operative
complications to a great extent. So, the patient is able to recover and return
to his normal life quickly.
Looking Beyond Computer Assisted Surgery
CAS plays a key role in improving the precision
and accuracy of surgical procedures and reducing the risks and difficulties
associated with the same. It reduces the operating time and makes the job of
the surgeon easier.
One of the benefits of CAS is that it has led to
other developments in the field of medical science. For example, it is one of
the important factors that led to the development of robotic surgery, which is
considered one of the incredible advances in health field.
