3D Laparoscopy

While in conventional laparoscopy, the surgeon performs the operation by looking at a flat screen lacking depth perception, in a 3D system, they can precisely perceive the distance and position of tissues relative to one another, just like in the real world.

What is 3D Laparoscopy?

The process is very similar to the 3D technology used in the cinema industry:

Dual-Lens Camera: The tip of the laparoscopy rod (telescope) inserted into the body features two separate high-definition cameras. These cameras capture images from two different angles, mimicking human eyes.
3D Glasses: During the surgery, the surgeon and the surgical team wear special polarized 3D glasses that merge the images on the screen.
Depth Perception: The brain combines the two images on the screen, providing the surgeon with the depth of the surgical field, the layers of tissues, and the actual location of the blood vessels.

Surgical Advantages

3D laparoscopy maximizes the surgeon’s hand-eye coordination, thereby enhancing the quality of the surgery:

Precise Suturing: Passing the needle at the correct angle is difficult on a two-dimensional screen. In a 3D image, since the surgeon clearly sees the tip of the needle and the depth of the tissue, suturing and knotting procedures are performed much faster and without errors.
Vessel and Nerve Preservation: Thanks to depth perception, the boundaries between vital, delicate blood vessels and nerve fibers are recognized much more clearly. This reduces the risk of complications.
Speed and Safety: It shortens the operation time because the surgeon makes no “wasted moves”; every movement is millimetrically directed at the target.

Differences from Traditional (2D) Laparoscopy

Feature	2D Laparoscopy	3D Laparoscopy
Image	Flat, like a standard TV image.	Volumetric image with depth perception.
Margin of Error	There may be a risk of tissue damage due to the lack of depth.	Safer, as the distance between tissues is clearly measured.
Learning Curve	It takes time for the surgeon to get used to a screen without depth.	More comfortable for the surgeon since it is close to natural vision.
Operation Time	Longer, especially during the suturing phases.	Offers a much faster and more fluent process.