Grove City Medical Center News

New Technology at Grove City Medical Center Improves Safety & Effectiveness of Sinus Surgery 

For those who tolerate chronic sinus problems, coping with intense headaches and persistent nasal drainage is a way of life—a painfully annoying way of life. Ear, nose and throat specialists, or ENT’s, commonly perform a procedure called Endoscopic Sinus Surgery on more than 300,000 Americans each year to alleviate the symptoms typical of chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps and other sinus conditions that may require surgical repair. However, in spite of the frequency with which ESS is performed, Dr. Marc Maslov, an ENT at Grove City Medical Center, pointed out the irrefutable risk associated with the procedure. “The sinus cavity is located extremely close to the eyes and the brain, so surgical precision is absolutely critical,” he said.

That’s why Maslov, who has performed ESS thousands of times throughout his 15-year professional career, called the new navigational technology system at United Community Hospital, “a major advancement toward safer, more effective sinus surgery.”

Through the creation of a computerized model of a patient’s skull anatomy using CT scans, the InstaTrak Surgical Navigation system enables the surgeon to distinguish areas of a patient’s sinuses and the surrounding anatomy in far greater detail. The images are displayed on a computer monitor while the surgeon is operating and provide a guide for him to follow as he locates and removes diseased sinus tissue. 

“It’s really quite amazing to see the technology in action,” said Pat Lauschus, RN, an operating room nurse who regularly assists Dr. Maslov as he operates on patients. “With this system, the surgeon can see the exact location of the surgical instrument while he’s operating,” said Lauschus, “which increases his confidence during the procedure.”

“The benefit of the navigation system to patients,” said Maslov, “is that I’m able to do a more thorough job, more safely.”

Media Release May 2, 2005