THE HYBRID OR The hybrid room is equipped with...

THE HYBRID OR

The hybrid room is equipped with multiple high-definition cameras and video monitors that give surgeons better views of the operating field during minimally invasive surgery. Using technology developed by Karl Storz Endoscopy-America, the audiovisual system links with electronic lab records and hospital information systems and can support live, on-demand teleconferencing. The system allows surgeons to use a laptop device to access live and stored surgical video files through an Internet link, watch live cases as they are being performed, and communicate between ORs.

“This combines the operating room and catheterization laboratory into one, giving us the capability to perform procedures like coronary or aortic graft stenting and open heart surgery at one time,” said Starnes, chair of the Department of Surgery and surgeon-in-chief of the USC hospitals. “This opens a whole new portal for us, in terms of the types of therapy we can provide to our patients.”