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Intraoperative benefits of Ergo touted in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery

The portability of the Digirad Ergo Imaging System is making a significant impact in the pediatric oncology world. The Journal of Pediatric Surgery recently published an article on its intraoperative use. Most notably, it reported on how nuclear imaging with the Ergo effectively reduces the time under anesthesia and offers real-time confirmation of lesion removal. Digirad recently spoke with Dr. Marcus M. Malek of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, to further elaborate on the study.

Single environment reduces time under anesthesia

In order to guide lymph node biopsy, pre-surgery lymphatic mapping is done via lymphoscintigraphy. Adults and teens are generally able to tolerate the procedure while awake. It does, however, involve an injection and the need to remain still, which can often be difficult for a child. For that reason, young pediatric patients, and some adults for that matter, are sedated and mapped in the nuclear medicine suite and then transported to the operating room. The additional step takes a considerable amount of time and coordination, which leads to downtime in the OR.

The portability of the Digirad Ergo allows the patient to be anesthetized while they’re in the operating room. Prior to the start of the surgery, the nuclear medicine technologist or physician injects the radiotracer in standard fashion. After the tracer has moved to the area of interest, the Ergo acquires the images needed for the lymphoscintgraphy. Once the sentinel nodes are marked and the area is prepped, the surgery can begin without delay. When the procedure and the surgery are done in one environment, it’s safer for the patient, spares them additional time under anesthesia, and alleviates the need for transport.

Visual confirmation in real-time

Beyond reduced anesthesia time, a camera in the operating room allows the surgeon to confirm the lesion of interest has been removed in real time. Certainly, a preoperative lymphoscintigraphy can help with mapping, but it cannot visually confirm the lesion’s removal. The Ergo allows confirmation of lesion removal or, in some cases, identification of lesions that were thought to be removed or hidden behind another. Visual representation is a fail-safe that ultimately improves surgical outcome.

In the past, some have equated portability with lower quality images, but the Digirad Ergo doesn’t trade one benefit for another. It delivers high-quality images that technologists say rival any static nuclear camera and its compact, portable design offers maximum clinical versatility.

Read the full article, Use of intraoperative nuclear imaging leads to decreased anesthesia time and real-time confirmation of lesion removal , at the Journal of Pediatric Surgery.

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