Video Capture of Plastic Surgery Procedures Using the GoPro HERO 3+

Abstract

Background:Significant improvements can be made in recoding surgical procedures, particularly in capturing high-quality video recordings from the surgeons’ point of view. This study examined the utility of the GoPro HERO 3+ Black Edition camera for high-definition, point-of-view recordings of plastic and reconstructive surgery.Methods:The GoPro HERO 3+ Black Edition camera was head-mounted on the surgeon and oriented to the surgeon’s perspective using the GoPro App. The camera was used to record 4 cases: 2 fat graft procedures and 2 breast reconstructions. During cases 1-3, an assistant remotely controlled the GoPro via the GoPro App. For case 4 the GoPro was linked to a WiFi remote, and controlled by the surgeon.Results:Camera settings for case 1 were as follows: 1080p video resolution; 48 fps; Protune mode on; wide field of view; 16:9 aspect ratio. The lighting contrast due to the overhead lights resulted in limited washout of the video image. Camera settings were adjusted for cases 2-4 to a narrow field of view, which enabled the camera’s automatic white balance to better compensate for bright lights focused on the surgical field. Cases 2-4 captured video sufficient for teaching or presentation purposes.Conclusions:The GoPro HERO 3+ Black Edition camera enables high-quality, cost-effective video recording of plastic and reconstructive surgery procedures. When set to a narrow field of view and automatic white balance, the camera is able to sufficiently compensate for the contrasting light environment of the operating room and capture high-resolution, detailed video.

Wearable technology in the operating room: a systematic review

“…The GoPro series of cameras are commercially available ‘action’ cameras typically used for extreme sport photography 39 43. They consist of a high-definition (HD) camera encased in a compact frame that can be strapped to the head or body of the user 42…”

“…Five of the nine articles (56%) were primary clinical research articles that evaluated various GoPro devices 35 38 39 42 43. All of these studies found that the technical specifications of the models tested could be adjusted to optimise the quality of picture and video capture such that fine details within the surgical field could be visualised.…”

“…Unrestricted freedom of motion gave battery-powered wearables a distinct advantage over their wire-connected counterparts, but poor battery life was repeatedly cited as a serious limitation to device usability; when subjected to the heavy usage of continuous video streaming, Google Glass had a reported battery life of 30–40 min,5 10 while GoPro devices required charging after 90 min of continuous recording 39 43. Since these devices were originally developed for the consumer market,1 2 it is not surprising that their designs and capabilities have not been optimised for medical applications.…”

Video recording of the operating room—is anonymity possible?

“…The infrared video had the crispest view of the "surgical field," and its wide-angle view replicated the view often seen from cameras mounted on ceilings for ambient room recordingdthis combination of a crisp image and wider-angle view with subjects appearing farther away likely contributed to the mixed opinions regarding anonymity and suggests that the closeness of an image might affect perceptions of anonymity. It also highlights the ability of infrared images to circumvent the "washout effect" of operative lights on surgical videos [13]. Ultimately, the precise balance for any study will depend on the research question and the current state of technology, and we have even found that point-cloud videos can be useful for certain applications, such as workflow tracking or ergonomics assessment.…”

Combined use of simulation and digital technologies for teaching dermatologic surgery

“…6 The use of the GoPro camera has been previously used to capture high resolution video of plastic surgery procedures. 7 The use of instructional power-point presentations or videos, followed by live demonstrations and intermittent practice and evaluations has a clear benefit over a single instructional session. 8 While implementation of digital photography, educational and simulation technologies is a big challenge in many training centers, efforts should be made to make their combined use the new standard in dermatologic surgery teaching.…”