Physician experience with an optical image guidance system for sinus surgery.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Intraoperative guidance systems have been developed which use infrared tracking technology to assist with anatomical localization during sinus surgery. Although the introduction of this technology is intended to increase the safety and efficacy of sinus surgery, little is known about its actual impact in the clinical setting. The objective of this report was to study the application and utilization of an image guidance system shared by multiple sinus surgeons in a specialty hospital.

STUDY DESIGN: Combined prospective case study and retrospective analysis of physician surveys.

METHODS: An optical-based image guidance system (LandmarX, Xomed, Inc., Jacksonville, FL) was used by 34 physicians to perform 754 sinonasal surgeries over a 2.5-year period at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. In 19 cases, system registration was repeated during surgery to measure the effect of fiducial placement on system accuracy.

RESULTS: The measured accuracy of anatomical localization at the start of surgery (mean value, 1.69 +/- 0.38 mm) was comparable to the perceived accuracy of 1 to 3 mm that was reported by 79% of surgeons surveyed. Operating room time (mean period, 130.6 +/- 41.1 min) correlated with the surgical procedure performed (P < .05), but not with the disease stage or revision rate. According to a majority of surgeons, use of the image guidance equipment increased operating room time by 15 to 30 minutes during initial cases and by 5 to 15 minutes once experience with the equipment had been acquired. More than 90% of surgeons anticipated their continued use of the image guidance equipment for sinus surgery at a similar or greater level in the future.

CONCLUSION: An optical-based image guidance system can be successfully integrated into a multisurgeon operating room environment. Use of the system provides accurate anatomical localization during sinus surgery and results in a relatively high level of physician satisfaction.