Method and value of digital recording of operations for congenital heart disease.

Purpose: We describe the methods we have used to employ digital video techniques in the teaching of surgery for congenital heart disease.

Description: This paper describes the hardware and software required to initiate and utilize digital video in surgery for congenital heart defects. Images are collected through a headlight camera and stored on standard digital-video camera tape. Tapes are catalogued using a purpose built database, linked to the hospital data system, and employing the European Pediatric Codes coding system for diagnostic and procedural coding. This permits keyword as well as patient-based searches. Master tapes are then digitally edited using proprietary software to create for example teaching tapes or to explain the operation to the family of the patient.

Evaluation: Eighty percent of the procedures performed by one surgeon (M.J.E.) during the last year have been recorded in this way.

Conclusions: A working digital archive of pediatric cardiac surgical procedures has been created. Database links to hospital systems create the opportunity for linking full, visual records of procedures to be retained in an electronic patient record.