Applicability of DICOM structured reporting for the standardized exchange of implantation plans

Abstract

PURPOSE: Today's operating room is equipped with different devices supporting the surgeon. Due to the lack of common interfaces between devices, an integrated support of the surgical workflow is missing. In the field of implantation, a smooth exchange of preoperatively planned data between devices is of great interest. Additionally, the availability of standardized preoperative data would facilitate the documentation, especially with regard to Electronic Health Records.

METHODS: To analyze whether DICOM Structured Reporting can be the basis for a standardized digital human- and machine-readable implantation plan, we derived all requirements for such a document. Therefore, we examined the conventional implantation plan and future applications of the digital plan.

RESULTS: In this paper, we propose to use the mechanisms introduced by DICOM Structured Reporting as storage and communication infrastructure for implantation plans in the surgical domain. DICOM Structured Reporting complies with all requirements of our analysis. Additionally, we introduce a first draft of a standardized implantation plan structure.

CONCLUSIONS: A standardized digital implantation plan based on the DICOM Structured Report has the potential to overcome current integration problems in the OR and to facilitate new applications.