Critical seconds saved during brain aneurysm procedure with pre-surgery rehearsal

First time Surgical Theater's Surgical Rehearsal Platform™ utilized in an emergency case, at UH Case Medical Center

2013-06-20

(Press-News.org) VIDEO: Surgical Theater aims to allow each and every neurosurgeon the ability to "Pre-Live the Future. " The Surgical Rehearsal Platform (SRP) supports a neurosurgeon's goal of providing patients with the best...
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Surgical Theater's Surgical Rehearsal Platform™ (SRP) provided neurosurgeons the opportunity to rehearse a complicated cerebral case before entering the operating room, saving the surgical team critical seconds on a time-sensitive procedure.

Recently, a patient was transferred to University Hospitals Case Medical Center for treatment of a ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm. While the patient was being prepared for surgery, neurosurgeons were able to upload the patient's CT and MRI scans onto the SRP and determine how best to clip the aneurysm before stepping into the operating room, something not possible until earlier this year.

"When an aneurysm ruptures, it is a critical and emergency condition. Once a rupture is diagnosed and the patient is rushed to the hospital there is also risk of a second rupture that is often fatal. The second rupture can also occur during surgery which makes each second in the OR crucial for a successful outcome," said Dr. Warren Selman, Chairman, Department of Neurological Surgery at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. Dr. Selman is a co-originator of the SRP's development.

Dr. Selman adds, "The Surgical Rehearsal Platform allowed me to save crucial time in the OR. The "mental picture" and "muscle memory" gained from the brief SRP rehearsal maximized the use of pre-surgery information and allowed me to analyze and 'dry run' the optimal treatment beforehand, which led to a safe and effective clip placement without need for further adjustment, while minimizing the temporary occlusion time."

University Hospitals Case Medical Center was the first hospital to utilize the SRP and SRP's are now being installed at five additional medical centers in the country.

Surgical Theater aims to allow each and every neurosurgeon the ability to "Pre-Live the Future" with an SRP. Using the SRP supports every neurosurgeon's goal of providing their patients with the best possible outcome from what can often be delicate and complicated brain surgery.

Using standard scanned images from any patient, the FDA-cleared SRP generates 3D patient specific and accurate models showing the interaction between life-like tissue and surgical instruments. The tissue responds "realistically" to actions taken by the surgeon, enabling accurate pre-surgery planning and rehearsal. The unique software utilizes flight simulator technology to permit the remote connection of multiple SRPs; participants anywhere in the world can simultaneously work together and practice the same case with real-time feedback and collaborate on the planning of a specific surgery case.

University Hospitals Case Medical Center is currently conducting an Institutional Review Board approved study to evaluate the efficacy of the SRP in cerebral aneurysm cases.

### About Surgical Theater, LLC Surgical Theater, LLC is a privately held, Cleveland, Ohio-based startup that produces virtual realistic and interactive scenes where surgeons are able to plan, rehearse and tele-mentor their specific missions. The Company provides the opportunity for novice and experienced surgeons to "pre-live the future" by rehearsing their procedure prior to the actual procedure, similar to what pilots do prior to flying complex missions. Such purposeful practice or warm-up has been shown to benefit both novice and experienced surgeons; it may provide an important new tool in the surgeon's armamentarium to improve patient safety and outcomes. For more information visit http://www.surgicaltheater.net.

About University Hospitals University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of hospitals, outpatient centers and primary care physicians. At the core of our health system is University Hospitals Case Medical Center. The primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research centers of excellence in the nation and the world, including cancer, pediatrics, women's health, orthopedics and spine, radiology and radiation oncology, neurosurgery and neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, organ transplantation and human genetics. Its main campus includes the internationally celebrated UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children's hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University. University Hospitals Case Medical Center is the 2012 recipient of the American Hospital Association – McKesson Quest for Quality Prize for its leadership and innovation in quality improvement and safety. For more information, go to http://www.uhhospitals.org

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Critical seconds saved during brain aneurysm procedure with pre-surgery rehearsal

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