10/14/2021
𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 – 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝟲-𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵-𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝘆
On May 4, 2019, at the Sanatorio Americano in Montevideo, Uruguay, our technology was decisive to successfully plan and execute a massive Retroperitoneal Neuroblastoma resection surgery by Pediatric Surgeon Dr. Sylvia Duarte.
The patient arrived at the hospital at 3 months of age after the mother noticed the presence of an abdominal tumor. After consulting in the hospital, an MRI and CT scan were performed where a huge retroperitoneal tumor was identified.
The tumor extended and occupied almost the entire abdominal cavity, from the lower face of the liver to the pelvis, causing a great distortion of the retroperitoneal vessels, displacing and compressing the vena cava, displacing the right kidney, dislocating it, and leaving it in an almost horizontalized position.
Given the massive extension of the tumor, the high-risk area it occupied, and the fact that the primary imaging evaluation showed a possible infiltration of the aorta and inferior vena cava by the tumor, the 3D reconstruction of the patient's anatomy, was a key asset in achieving a better understanding of the region of interest and the complex anatomical configuration of the patient.
We proceeded to reconstruct the patient's anatomy in 3D using the studies carried out as input, combining the information from multiple CT + MRI studies to achieve the highest degree of detail and fidelity in the final model.
For this, Dr. Duarte specified which were the anatomical structures that she wanted to visualize in our model, particularly focusing on how the tumor interacted with the surrounding structures, the venous and arterial structures, and the urinary tract with the kidneys, bladder, and ureters.
Complete resection of the tumor was achieved, through an approach whereby decollating the right colon, duodenum, and pancreas, it was possible to free the lower pole of the tumor and then directly ligate the feeding arteries.
As Dr. Duarte explained, our 3D model allowed her to directly address the tumor’s vascular supply, since, by training on our model, she knew exactly the spatial location and the measurements of where each branch was located. Serving as a "roadmap" the 3D model was key to plan and carry out the procedure, even to the point of using it as an anatomical reference tool within the operating room.
After the surgery she told us:
"It was like using a GPS during surgery."
Dr. Sylvia Duarte
Pediatric Surgery Specialist
Sanatorio Americano, Montevideo Uruguay
You can see Dr. Duarte present this and other cases where she used our technology in the following fragment of the Salud 360 webinar: https://youtu.be/d8K_y6DfaVI
