Otolaryngologists - ear, nose and throat specialists - at Franciscan Health have access to the FUSION™ image-guided surgical system. ENT image-guided surgery is like a GPS (global positioning satellite) system for the anatomy of your head. These systems are used to aid the surgeon in confirming the location of critical structures when the interior of the nose and sinuses is distorted by unusual anatomy or prior surgery.

In using the image-guidance navigation system, a CT scan of the sinuses is performed using a specific navigation system protocol. A special mask or markers are placed on a patient's face during the scan to serve as reference points. The CT scan is transferred to a disk, which is then loaded into the image-guidance computer.

During surgery, a detection array or a mask is again placed on the patient's head. The CT scan images loaded into the system are then calibrated to the patient's anatomy using set pre-set reference points. The position of the sinus surgery instruments can then be tracked by the computer by integrating the information detected from the patient's pre-set reference points and comparing it to the information on the CT scan map.

Benefits of image-guided ENT surgery

Designed for sinus surgery and advanced ENT applications, the surgical navigation system enhances the physician's ability to perform more thorough and challenging procedures. Providing three-dimensional visualization enables your surgeon to locate and avoid critical structures, such as the optic nerve and brain, while safely navigating their way to the diseased area.

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