UC Davis uses 3D imaging technology for Cushing’s disease surgery

University of California, Davis surgeons used new 3D-imaging technology to help them perform surgery on a dog with Cushing’s disease.

The technology has been used in human surgeries for several years, but it’s new for veterinary medicine. Surgeons used it to improve their precision during the adrenalectomy on the Boston terrier, named Louie.

Veterinarians at UC Davis have traditionally used two-dimensional imaging when performing the procedure. While surgeons can navigate the animal’s body proficiently after a learning curve, they lose depth perception with the two-dimensional image that can lead to surgical errors or prolong the surgery.

The 3D image helps them more clearly navigate their surgical field.

“I hope this allows us to push the envelope for different types of surgeries that we could consider performing minimally invasively,” said Dr. Ingrid Balsa, who performed the surgery.

“I think this will also provide a stepping stone for resident training in regards to learning laparoscopic procedures, which have different instrumentation and techniques compared to traditional open surgeries,” Balsa said. “The 3D scope will remove one barrier—loss of depth perception—in learning laparoscopy.”