A new operating room at Nebraska Health System (NHS) is the only one
in the region giving surgery a new dimension. The Storz OR1 system
gives surgeons infinite possibilities from the ability to teleconference
with other physicians to streaming live video of surgery to a colleague
across the country or to a classroom across campus.
Surgery today is dependent more and more upon computers, video screens
and other technologies, says Dmitry Oleynikov, M.D., assistant professor
and director of education and training for minimally invasive and computer
assisted surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Currently,
it is difficult to use all of these technologies together. The benefit
of the Storz OR1 system is a seamless integration between man and machine,
Dr. Oleynikov explains.
Surgical nurses no longer have to run from one side of the OR
to the other to adjust control settings on devices or lighting, says Shelly
Schwedhelm, R.N., director of NHS Perioperative & Emergency Services.
Now, all of those adjustments can be made by the surgeon or the nurse
with a touch of a screen. In addition, we can call up radiology images,
tissue images, retrieve key clinical data and most anything that the surgeon
needs with the touch of a screen.
In this cutting-edge surgical suite, the laparoscopic equipment is located
up off the floor on booms that swivel and move with ease rather than the
current method of moving heavy video cart towers while maneuvering around
cords. This allows the surgical team more time to focus on the procedure
itself. At the surgeons fingertips is the ability to teleconference; tele-illustrate;
send video to faraway places and access the Internet during surgery.
This technology allows for teaching and consultation in real time during
complicated surgical procedures, Dr. Oleynikov says. The other
experts watching the operation can give their input.
The Storz OR1 compliments the DaVinci surgical robot. By integrating
the robots video signal, surgeons can combine the two technologies.
The surgeon benefits from efficiency and integration. The staff
benefits from the ability to control all aspects of the OR from one central
location and the patient benefits from having a more streamlined experience,
often leading to shortened OR times and quicker recovery, Dr. Oleynikov
says.
The Storz OR1 is the only system of its kind in Nebraska. It will
enhance and support a variety of different procedures including all current
minimally invasive surgery, orthopaedic, urologic, obstetrical and gynecologic
surgeries as well as many others.
The new, high tech, OR can accommodate a wider range of surgical procedures
with a quicker turnover time. Having all of our new OR suites with basic
laparoscopic setups will allow more efficient use of the OR’s versus specialization
of a few with limited access, says Schwedhelm. In addition, the
equipment can be programmed for various surgical procedures customized
to surgeon preference. This will significantly OR reduce set up time,
she added.
The first surgical procedure in the new OR suite took place last week.
The patient had her gall bladder removed, went home from the hospital the
same day. She says she is feeling great and ready to go back to work.