SCRMC Brings New Technology into the Operating Room

When SCRMC general surgeon Chad Saul, MD, first saw the EnVisio™ surgical system demonstrated at a conference in Tampa, Florida, he knew it could drastically improve the way in which South Central conducts certain surgeries, particularly breast cancer surgeries.  

Traditionally, to remove potentially harmful lesions from the breast area, surgeons relied on wire localization. A radiologist begins the process of wire localization by conducting an X-ray, ultrasound or MRI to determine where the lesion is, then they place a hooked wire into the tissue, marking the lesion’s location.  

This process often means that surgeons have to place the incision far away from the actual lesion they are aiming to remove and then follow the wire to the appropriate area, creating a longer, more complicated surgery.  

The EnVisio™ system from Elucent Medical works differently, reducing uncertainties for the surgical team and providing the following benefits to the patient. 

Allows for Better Incision Placement  

This advanced system uses trademarked In-Body Spatial Intelligence™ to guide surgeons to the lesion using radio waves, allowing surgeons to choose the most cosmetic incision placement and ensuring a more precise removal.  

“We are no longer dependent on the radiologist’s ease of approach, or the direction through which they approach where the spot is,” Dr. Saul said. “Sometimes their access to the spot in question is limited, and the access point for the wire is not ideal. The bonus of this new technology is that it tells us how far away we are from the spot we need to remove when we are cutting.”  

Provides Precise Guidance for Clean Surgical Margins 

The wire localization method also does not provide much indication of where the surgeon is relative to the lesion, which makes removing the appropriate amount of tissue to provide clean margins difficult. 

“The EnVisio™ system, however, uses radio frequency to tell surgeons how close you are in every dimension, which is especially important in cancer surgeries where we need to remove a certain amount of tissue from around the lesion,” Dr. Saul said. “Time will tell, but I suspect it will also decrease the odds of us having to re-operate.” 

SCRMC is committed to providing patients with the highest level of care and is proud to be the first organization in the state to offer this surgical tool.  

For more information or to schedule an appointment with South Central General Surgery, please call 601-649-7802.