In two of its operating rooms, Cedars-Sinai has placed the most advanced high-definition laparoscopic cameras available. The miniaturized cameras, which are unlike any others in the Los Angeles area, are equipped to transmit images and audio in real time around the world and will be used for educational purposes.

In addition to the true HD cameras, the operating rooms also have new high-definition flat panel monitors to view the images.

"Our surgeons are often invited to teach at international conferences, and the best way to teach, of course, is to be virtually there from the operating room," said Edward H. Phillips, M.D., executive vice chairman of the Department of Surgery and chief of General Surgery.

The high-definition cameras offer several benefits for surgeons performing operations and those viewing a procedure at another location.

"Hemoglobin from blood absorbs light, and the present analog systems do not compensate well for this decrease in illumination. Also, red color saturation is less in high definition. The end result is that high definition enables the surgeon to see better when there is blood in the surgical field, which makes surgery safer," said Dr. Phillips, who holds the Karl Storz Endowed Chair in Minimally Invasive Surgery in Honor of George Berci, M.D., one of the developers of minimally invasive techniques and technology.

With the new cameras, surgeons can view the surgical field even when using a smaller diameter scope, which translates into smaller incisions and reduced pain. High definition also provides a wide-angle view, which allows surgeons to more quickly see instruments moving in and out of the surgical field, and depth of field is improved.

"You're looking at a two-dimensional monitor but the visual clues that we use to judge depth of field, such as shadow and parallax -- where a closer item appears bigger than one farther away -- can be seen more clearly. We have shown in the surgical training lab that certain functions, such as tying knots and suturing, are improved because of the enhanced depth of field. There is less of what we call 'sword fighting,' or moving around instruments before getting to the target," Dr. Phillips said.

Dr. Phillips and his colleagues recently completed a study on the use of high-definition cameras in laparoscopy. An article on their results has been accepted for publication in August in Surgical Endoscopy.