Facial plastic surgeons in Turkey describe a quick, easy and inexpensive approach for capturing intraoperative visual documentation using smart mobile devices in the September/October 2016 issue of JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
Intraoperative visual documentation enhances written operation notes and helps surgeons track and share their personal progress and pearls. But capturing the images by video can be a hassle and expensive, according to the authors.
There are professional video documentation systems available, but they’re costly and are not available in many operating rooms. Using a smart phone to record images during surgery often doesn’t work because obtaining a good angle might result in shaky footage or getting in the way of the surgery itself. And starting, pausing and stopping footage can prove to be a challenge in a sterile environment.
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The authors came up with a simple solution using the video capability of the smart mobile device, which takes only about two minutes to set up, doesn’t get in the way and produces good quality video footage and photos. All it requires is your smart phone or device and a device holder plus Bluetooth remote shutter (an investment of less than $25, total), they write.
It works like this: Connect your device to the operative lights with a “vacuumed mobile device holder,” which allows for a stable recording at various angles. Pair the remote shutter to the device, so that the person recording can stop or start recording with a click of the button, according to the Surgical Pearls paper.
The authors recommend inserting the remote in a sterile nylon bag, so that the surgical team can use it.
The surgeon can control the smart device video camera’s angle with a sterile handle that is attached to the operative lights.
When all is said and done, simply backup the footage or photos.
“Although there are more professional systems that provide superior results, this is a simple solution that makes use of the technology readily available in facial plastic surgeons’ pockets,” they write.
