{"title":"Viewtify: A Three-Dimensional Real-Time Computer Graphic Software that Allows for Clear Visualization of Tiny Vessels of Surgical Importance.","authors":"Motoi Kato, Haruno Furutani, Tatsuya Uchida, Shota Wakasaki, Tomoyuki Ota, Hiroshi Matsumoto","doi":"10.1097/GOX.0000000000007119","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Preoperative evaluation of tiny blood vessels is critical in flap surgery to improve safety and postoperative outcomes. This study assessed the efficacy of Viewtify, a 3-dimensional computer graphics (3DCG) software, in evaluating vascular pedicle and perforator locations in free flap surgery.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study included 30 patients who underwent reconstructive surgery with a deep inferior epigastric artery perforator, profunda artery perforator, or fibular flaps between January 2021 and July 2024. The thickness of adipose tissue was measured using contrast-enhanced computed tomography at the flap harvest sites. Perforator visibility scores were assigned based on 3D reconstructed images from Viewtify, and correlations with patient factors (age, body mass index, and adipose thickness) were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Vascular pedicle was successfully identified in all patients. The perforator visibility was higher in the abdomen (4.9 ± 0.16) and thigh (4.6 ± 0.42) than in the lower leg (3.1 ± 0.90) (<i>P</i> < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between adipose thickness and the perforator visibility score (<i>r</i> = 0.533, <i>P</i> = 0.0025); however, no significant correlations with other factors were observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Viewtify is an effective method for visualizing tiny blood vessels during preoperative planning, particularly in areas with thicker adipose tissue. Its use may improve surgical safety and precision, particularly in flap surgery involving abdominal and thigh regions. Further studies are required to optimize the imaging protocols for areas with thinner adipose tissue, such as the lower legs.</p>","PeriodicalId":20149,"journal":{"name":"Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open","volume":"13 9","pages":"e7119"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12453311/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000007119","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/9/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"SURGERY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Preoperative evaluation of tiny blood vessels is critical in flap surgery to improve safety and postoperative outcomes. This study assessed the efficacy of Viewtify, a 3-dimensional computer graphics (3DCG) software, in evaluating vascular pedicle and perforator locations in free flap surgery.
Methods: This retrospective study included 30 patients who underwent reconstructive surgery with a deep inferior epigastric artery perforator, profunda artery perforator, or fibular flaps between January 2021 and July 2024. The thickness of adipose tissue was measured using contrast-enhanced computed tomography at the flap harvest sites. Perforator visibility scores were assigned based on 3D reconstructed images from Viewtify, and correlations with patient factors (age, body mass index, and adipose thickness) were analyzed.
Results: Vascular pedicle was successfully identified in all patients. The perforator visibility was higher in the abdomen (4.9 ± 0.16) and thigh (4.6 ± 0.42) than in the lower leg (3.1 ± 0.90) (P < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between adipose thickness and the perforator visibility score (r = 0.533, P = 0.0025); however, no significant correlations with other factors were observed.
Conclusions: Viewtify is an effective method for visualizing tiny blood vessels during preoperative planning, particularly in areas with thicker adipose tissue. Its use may improve surgical safety and precision, particularly in flap surgery involving abdominal and thigh regions. Further studies are required to optimize the imaging protocols for areas with thinner adipose tissue, such as the lower legs.
期刊介绍：
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open is an open access, peer reviewed, international journal focusing on global plastic and reconstructive surgery.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open publishes on all areas of plastic and reconstructive surgery, including basic science/experimental studies pertinent to the field and also clinical articles on such topics as: breast reconstruction, head and neck surgery, pediatric and craniofacial surgery, hand and microsurgery, wound healing, and cosmetic and aesthetic surgery. Clinical studies, experimental articles, ideas and innovations, and techniques and case reports are all welcome article types. Manuscript submission is open to all surgeons, researchers, and other health care providers world-wide who wish to communicate their research results on topics related to plastic and reconstructive surgery. Furthermore, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open, a complimentary journal to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, provides an open access venue for the publication of those research studies sponsored by private and public funding agencies that require open access publication of study results. Its mission is to disseminate high quality, peer reviewed research in plastic and reconstructive surgery to the widest possible global audience, through an open access platform. As an open access journal, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open offers its content for free to any viewer. Authors of articles retain their copyright to the materials published. Additionally, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open provides rapid review and publication of accepted papers.
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