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Biomedical subjects

Didier Mutter

Publications and source records attributed to Didier Mutter.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Surgical education and Internet-based simulation: The World Virtual University.

The new means and modalities of communication and information technologies have significantly revolutionized access to surgical education. The introduction of the Internet information highway into mainstream clinical practice as an information sharing medium offers a wide range of opportunities to healthcare professionals. High-speed Internet broadcasting allows the display of high-quality full-screen videos. Access to surgical procedures through the Internet already plays a major role in continuing medical education nowadays and will undoubtedly be gaining grounds in the future. WebSurg.com, the World Virtual University, a web-based surgical university, is dedicated to minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. Using brand-new multimedia data, the electronic university provides thorough descriptions of over 150 procedures in minimal access surgery and 265 videos of surgical interventions. Such a teaching tool recreates all the prerequisites and requirements of a traditional School of Medicine, incorporating the manifold standpoints of world-renowned experts about specific topics and hands-on hints in various surgical specialities. Following the evolution of technologies, recent advances have made it possible to display items of Websurg.com on handheld devices (personal data/digital assistance also known as PDAs, Pocket PCs, and smart phones). Integrating all these elements into a unique World Virtual University, Websurg.com epitomizes the concept of a unified academic center providing teaching and tutorials administered by international experts. The Internet assuredly contributes to the worldwide diffusion of scientific information in an easy and user-friendly way.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

The impact of obesity on technical feasibility and postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic left colectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare technical aspects and postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic left colectomy in obese and nonobese patients. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Obesity has been generally associated with increased surgical risk. The data regarding outcomes after laparoscopic colectomy in obese and nonobese patients are limited and quite controversial; however, most reports have suggested that obesity is associated with a greater technical difficulty as well as an increased risk for conversions and postoperative complications. METHODS: All patients undergoing laparoscopic left colectomy for any pathologic condition between January 2001 and January 2003 were analyzed. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) above 30 kg/m were defined as obese and patients with BMI below 30 kg/m were defined as nonobese. Data collected included age, gender, BMI, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, diagnosis, technical parameters of the procedure, operative time, conversion, pathology, length of hospital stay, and complications over a 30-day postoperative course. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients underwent elective laparoscopic left colectomy during the 2-year period. Twelve patients were excluded from analysis because missing data did not allow calculation of their BMI. Of the 111 patients analyzed, 23 (20.7%) were obese and 88 patients (79.3%) were nonobese. Patients' preoperative clinical characteristics were similar in obese and nonobese patients except for BMI (P > 0.001). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to intraoperative parameters, duration of the operation, resection margin, and number of harvested nodes as well as overall postoperative complication rates. There were no conversions in the obese patients, whereas 5 procedures in the nonobese group required conversion to open surgery (P = not significant). Obese patients had shorter hospital stays than nonobese subjects (7 +/- 2.5 days vs. 9.5 +/- 7 days; P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: In contrast with previously reported series of laparoscopic colectomy, our findings show that obesity does not have an adverse impact on the technical difficulty and postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic left colectomy. Our study supports the safety of using laparoscopic surgery for colorectal diseases in obese patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Safe laparoscopic surgery in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: The elderly are more prone to complications of surgery because of comorbidity, and they may benefit most from a minimally invasive approach. This study was intended to evaluate the safety of the use of a laparoscopic approach for emergency and elective surgery in elderly patients. METHODS: From January 2000 to June 2001, all patients over 75 years of age who underwent a procedure that began laparoscopically were included. Physiologic and operative scores according to the POSSUM scoring system were recorded. These were then used to calculate predicted morbidity and mortality by both the POSSUM and P-POSSUM systems. Predicted outcomes were compared with actual outcomes. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-two patients with a mean age of 80 years were included; 52% were emergency cases. The overall morbidity was 14.5% and the mortality rate was 1.8%. Fourteen procedures (8.4%), all emergencies, were converted. Both mortality and morbidity rates were lower than the predicted values (P = 0.001 and P = 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A laparoscopic approach can be used safely in an elderly population undergoing surgery in a daily practice for miscellaneous conditions, whether elective or emergency operations.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2004

Three-dimensional virtual cholangioscopy: a reliable tool for the diagnosis of common bile duct stones.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to evaluate the clinical reliability of a new software system employing 3-dimensional (3D) virtual anatomic reconstruction and intraluminal virtual exploration for detection of choledocholithiasis and preoperative visualization of the biliary anatomy. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Virtual reality systems have been proposed for gastroscopy, bronchoscopy, and colonoscopy, as well as for the 3D reconstruction of liver anatomy and hepatic lesions. The impact of these systems in preoperative diagnostics has not been established due to the lack of large clinical series evaluating their reliability. METHODS: From November 2000 to July 2002, all patients presenting to our Institute with suspected choledocholithiasis were prospectively included in the study. All patients underwent conventional magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and either intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The digital data from MRCP were incorporated into an original virtual reality software system to generate a 3D reconstruction. All 3D reconstructions were evaluated by a surgeon and a computer software engineer who were blind to the results of the IOC or ERCP. Sensitivity and specificity were then calculated based on the results of either the IOC or ERCP. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were enrolled in the study. The average time required to reconstruct the images into navigable virtual reality was 7.5 minutes (range, 4-13.5). The 3D virtual cholangioscopy had sensitivity and specificity rates of 71% and 91%, respectively, compared with 61% and 86% of the standard MRCP. CONCLUSION: : The 3D virtual cholangioscopy provides detailed preoperative reconstruction of biliary anatomy and reliable identification of choledocholithiasis with acceptable sensitivity and specificity in a clinical setting. Newer software developments may further enhance its accuracy, so that virtual cholangioscopy might challenge or replace more invasive diagnostic measures in the near future.

Cholangiography↗
PubMed2004

Argonaute 3D: a real-time cooperative medical planning software on DSL network.

Today, diagnosis of cancer and also therapeutic choice imply many specialized practitioners. They are generally located at different places and have to take the best decision as promptly as possible with the difficulty of CT-scan or MRI interpretation. Argonaute 3D is a tool that easily overcomes these issues, thanks to a cooperative solution based on virtual reality. An experimentation, where four practitioners met virtually throughout France, allowed to assess the interest of this solution.

Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed2002

Transcontinental robot-assisted remote telesurgery: feasibility and potential applications.

OBJECTIVE: To show the feasibility of performing surgery across transoceanic distances by using dedicated asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) telecommunication technology. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Technical limitations and the issue of time delay for transmission of digitized information across existing telecommunication lines had been a source of concern about the feasibility of performing a complete surgical procedure from remote distances. METHODS: To verify the feasibility and safety in humans, the authors attempted remote robot-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy on a 68-year-old woman with a history of abdominal pain and cholelithiasis. Surgeons were in New York and the patient in Strasbourg. Connections between the sites were done with a high-speed terrestrial network (ATM service). RESULTS: The operation was carried out successfully in 54 minutes without difficulty or complications. Despite a round-trip distance of more than 14,000 km, the mean time lag for transmission during the procedure was 155 ms. The surgeons perceived the procedure as safe and the overall system as perfectly reliable. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient returned to normal activities within 2 weeks after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Remote robot-assisted surgery appears feasible and safe. Teletransmission of active surgical manipulations has the potential to ensure availability of surgical expertise in remote locations for difficult or rare operations, and to improve surgical training worldwide.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Laparoscopic liver resection for malignant liver tumors: preliminary results of a multicenter European study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility, safety, and outcome of laparoscopic liver resection for malignant liver tumors. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The precise role of laparoscopy in resection of liver malignancies (hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] and liver metastases) remains controversial despite an increasing number of publications reporting laparoscopic resection of benign liver tumors. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in 11 surgical centers in Europe regarding their experience with laparoscopic resection of liver malignancies. Detailed questionnaires were sent to each surgeon focusing on patient characteristics, clinical data, type and characteristics of the tumor, technical details of the operation, and early and late clinical outcome. All patients had radiologic investigations at follow-up to exclude disease recurrence. RESULTS: From February 1994 to December 2000, 37 patients with malignant liver tumors were included in this study. Ten patients had HCC, including 9 with cirrhotic liver, and 27 patients had liver metastases. The mean tumor size was 3.3 cm, and 89% of the tumors were located in the left lobe or in the anterior segments of the right liver. Liver procedures included 12 wedge resections, 9 segmentectomies, 14 bisegmentectomies (including 13 left lateral segmentectomies), and 2 major hepatectomies. The transfusion rate, the use of pedicular clamping, the conversion rate (13.5% in the whole series), and the complication rate were significantly greater in patients with HCC. There were no deaths. Postoperative complications occurred in eight patients (22%). The surgical margin was less than 1 cm in 30% of the patients. During a mean follow-up of 14 months, the 2-year disease-free survival was 44% for patients with HCC and 53% for patients having hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer. No port-site metastases were observed during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with small malignant tumors, located in the left lateral segments or in the anterior segments of the right liver, laparoscopic resection is feasible and safe. The complication rate is low, except in patients with HCC on cirrhotic liver. By using laparoscopic ultrasound, a 1-cm free surgical margin should be routinely obtained. The late outcome needs to be evaluated in expert centers.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A new device for sentinel node detection in laparoscopic colon resection.

OBJECTIVE: To test the feasibility of using a newly developed device for laparoscopic lymphatic mapping of the colon by simultaneous and quantitative detection of both tissue coloration and radioactivity. METHODS: Four pigs were used in this study. In each animal, both blue dye and radioisotope injections were utilized. Lymphatic mapping was performed laparoscopically in the sigmoid mesocolon and in the right mesocolon. A solution containing a mix of 35 microcuries of Technetium Tc-99 sulfur Colloid and 1 mL of a vital blue dye was administered subserosally by percutaneous insertion of a 25 gauge needle under laparoscopic control. The new device for automated sentinel-node detection consists of a gamma-probe coupled with a laser device and can be passed through a regular 10-mm trocar. The device detects simultaneously both radioactivity and quantitative tissue coloration. Nodes showing a radioactivity at least 5 times higher than that of the background or that had a blue colorant concentration were considered our sentinel nodes. RESULTS: Laparoscopic simultaneous and quantitative detection of sentinel nodes was feasible in all pigs. One or more sentinel nodes were identified by either the blue dye or radioisotopic technique in both the sigmoid and right mesocolon. Quantitative tissue coloration detection led to the recognition of additional nodes that were not apparently colored to the naked eye. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic sentinel node detection using a device combining gamma and color detection is feasible in the porcine model. The significance of nodes apparently clear but positive with the quantitative detection technique should be further evaluated.

Animals↗