Digital video

The process of digital capture, editing, and archiving video has become an important aspect of documenting arthroscopic surgery. Recording the arthroscopic findings before and after surgery is an essential part of the patient's medical record. The hardware and software has become more reasonable to purchase, but the learning curve to master the software is steep. Digital video is captured at the time of arthroscopy to a hard disk, and written to a CD at the end of the operative procedure. The process of obtaining video of open procedures is more complex. Outside video of the procedure is recorded on digital tape with a digital video camera. The camera must be plugged into a computer to capture the video on the hard disk. Adobe Premiere software is used to edit the video and render the finished video to the hard drive. This finished video is burned onto a CD. We outline the choice of computer hardware and software for the manipulation of digital video. The techniques of backup and archiving the completed projects and files also are outlined. The uses of digital video for education and the formats that can be used in PowerPoint presentations are discussed.     

Simultaneous double video mediastinoscopy and video mediastinotomy--a step forward.

Mediastinal lymph node biopsy plays a fundamental role in diagnosis, staging and management of lung cancer. We describe a novel method of using the video-mediastinoscope for concurrent cervical mediastinotomy and anterior mediastinoscopy. We have performed five concurrent procedures using this system in the last 14 months. In four cases, we assessed the aorto-pulmonary (A-P) window lymph nodes. In the fifth case, we performed a cervical mediastinoscopy for para-tracheal and sub-carinal lymphadenopathy followed by an anterior videomediastinotomy, video assisted intrapericardial assessment, direct tumour sampling and A-P window lymph nodal biopsies. Due to the excellent visualisation afforded by the Videomediastinoscope, we were able to avoid an open procedure in all cases. We believe that this represents a major benefit of the videomediastinoscope in select cases.     

Announcements and video review

Announcements and video review     

The video invasion of rehabilitation

Motivating burned children to participate actively in rehabilitation at the burn unit demands many creative ideas. To avoid resistance from the child towards the exercises, it is important to offer a variety of techniques. A new play technique is outlined here, based on the use of video games, that is capable of motivating and stimulating children of all ages--even the youngest--towards active participation in rehabilitation.