Page 48 - Clinical Manual of Small Animal Endosurgery

36 Clinical Manual of Small Animal Endosurgery

accept s-VHS and composite signal inputs and similar output channels
are extremely useful, for the purposes of connecting recording devices to
the monitor, if necessary, to capture and keep images of the procedures
performed. Basic image adjustment of contrast, brightness and colour
can be helpful features to adjust the image quality during the arthro-
scopic procedure.

Records
Digital image capture has become the standard method of image collec-
tion and storage and a variety of hardware is available to achieve this,
ranging from camcorders, DVD recorders, USB streaming and capture
devices plugged in to either a personal computer or a dedicated medical
digital-signal video-archiving device (Fig. 2.4). It is useful to make
recorded video sequences when a procedure is of particular interest and
a permanent record is required. For the most part, still images are ade-
quate to provide a record of the arthroscopic findings, the procedure and
the postoperative intra-articular appearance. Captured frames from
video recordings are only of low resolution when viewed as still images
hence a still-image-capturing device is required to generate good-quality
still images.

Joint irrigation and distension
Steady and constant fluid flow through the joint during arthroscopy
maintains a clear field of view, flushing away surgical debris and haemor-
rhage. Isotonic lactated Ringer’s solution or sodium chloride are both
suitable irrigation fluids. Fluid is passed through the arthroscope sleeve,

Fig. 2.4 Digital (A) and still-image (B) recording devices.