Microvascular anastomosis in head and neck free flap reconstruction using the RoboticScope

Many different technologies are currently being used for surgical field magnification during microvascular anastomoses, including the operative microscope (OM), surgical loupes and the exoscope [1,2]. The OM is probably still the most widely used technology to perform microvascular anastomoses, owing a high-quality image thanks to its optical magnification. However, the OM can be cumbersome and often obliges the surgeons in uncomfortable positions, leading to musculoskeletal discomfort in the neck, shoulders and back [3]. In this setting, the use of the exoscope to perform microvascular anastomoses has been described in the literature, permitting a more ergonomic posture to the operators, but vitiated by a reduction of the image quality during high magnification of the surgical field due to its digital zoom. Recently, the RoboticScope (BHS Technologies GmbH, Innsbruck, Austria) has been introduced as a new magnification tool in cochlear implant surgery and neurosurgery [4,5]. The RoboticScope is an exoscope made of a robotic arm that holds a 3D camera. The arm can be navigated with an accuracy of 0.02 mm and a maximum velocity of 25 mm/s, while the camera owns a 4112 × 1542 stereo resolution. The image is projected to a head-mounted display (HMD), which is integrated in a headset with eye pieces. The image is also projected onto a screen held on the side of the RoboticScope, where all the operating room staff can follow the surgical procedure. Thanks to a foot pedal the first operator can start a menu on the HMD and control a variety of features including focus, working distance and zoom using the head movements. The use of the RoboticScope for microvascular surgery has only been described by few studies thus far. In particular, Dermietzel et al. [6] published a case series of free flap breast reconstruction performing microvascular anastomoses using this novel magnification system. Furthermore, Chung et al. [7] and Scaglioni et al. [8] respectively published a case of successful lymphaticovenular anastomosis performed with the RoboticScope. In the head and neck context, Boehm et al. [9] described the use of the RoboticScope to performed microvascular anastomosis in a case of tongue reconstruction with a radial forearm free flap. In all the above-mentioned studies the RoboticScope resulted to be feasible and non-inferior to the OM to perform microvascular surgery. Also, the surgeons found a relevant benefit in terms of ergonomic posture and reduced neck flexion and spinal discomfort during the anastomosis compared to the OM. In the present video, we show our first experience with the RoboticScope to perform microvascular anastomosis in a case of mandibular reconstruction with a fibula free flap (FFF).

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