SPY in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

SPY Improves Outcomes in Plastic Reconstructive Surgery

SPY enables surgeons performing complex reconstructive procedures to visually assess and objectively analyze the quaity of blood flow in vessels and native and reconstuctive tissue perfusion in real-time during the course of surgery. SPY enables surgeons to make informed surgical decisions based on clincally relevant information and images that can reduce the potential for post-operative complications and positively impact patient outcomes.

SPY is ideal for use in any reconstructive procedure where the ability to evaluate blood flow in vessels, tissue viability and perfusion can contribute to positive outcomes. Many of the procedures where SPY has demonstrated great benefit include, nipple and tissue sparing mastectomy, autologous and tissue expansion breast reconstruction, facial reconstruction and reanimation, muscle flaps, trauma reconstruction, digital and limb reattachement. 

In these surgeries, SPY enables surgeons to:

* pre-operatively visualize blood flow as an adjunct for the evaluation of circulation in the tissue
* intra-operatively assess blood flow in vessels and co-joined vessels
* post-operatively continue to adjunctively evaluate blood perfusion to the tissue

Surgeons report that the majority of complications in reconstructive surgery can be traced back to failed or poor perfusion at either the micro or macro circulatory level. Before SPY, there was no technology available to provide reliable intra-operative information related to tissue viability or perfusion. Surgeons typically rely on their clincal judgement but have expressed concerns that clinical evaluation may not always be precise and accurate. Independent studies of the use of SPY in breast reconstruction where complications such as tissue necrosis and non-healing wounds can be physically and emotionally devastating, have resulted in decreased rates of complications, returns to surgery and prolonged hospital stays. Reducations in complications can result in cost savings for hospitals.