Mansoor Jafri1, Stuart Brown, Graham Arnold, Rami Abboud, Weijie Wang. 1. Institute of Motion Analysis and Research, Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK. m.jafri@dundee.ac.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Minimal access surgery (MAS) can be a lengthy procedure when compared to open surgery and therefore surgeon fatigue becomes an important issue and surgeons may expose themselves to chronic injuries and making errors. There have been few studies on this topic and they have used only questionnaires and electromyography rather than direct measurement of energy expenditure (EE). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of an armrest could reduce the EE of surgeons during MAS. METHOD: Sixteen surgeons performed simulated MAS with and without using an armrest. They were required to perform the time-consuming task of using scissors to cut a rubber glove through its top layer in a triangular fashion with the help of a laparoscopic camera. Energy consumptions were measured using the Oxycon Mobile system during all the procedures. Error rate and duration time for simulated surgery were recorded. After performing the simulated surgery, subjects scored how comfortable they felt using the armrest. RESULTS: It was found that O(2) uptake (VO(2)) was 5 % less when surgeons used the armrest. The error rate when performing the procedure with the armrest was 35 % compared with 42.29 % without the armrest. Additionally, comfort levels with the armrest were higher than without the armrest. 75 % of surgeons indicated a preference for using the armrest during the simulated surgery. CONCLUSION: The armrest provides support for surgeons and cuts energy consumption during simulated MAS.
BACKGROUND: Minimal access surgery (MAS) can be a lengthy procedure when compared to open surgery and therefore surgeon fatigue becomes an important issue and surgeons may expose themselves to chronic injuries and making errors. There have been few studies on this topic and they have used only questionnaires and electromyography rather than direct measurement of energy expenditure (EE). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of an armrest could reduce the EE of surgeons during MAS. METHOD: Sixteen surgeons performed simulated MAS with and without using an armrest. They were required to perform the time-consuming task of using scissors to cut a rubber glove through its top layer in a triangular fashion with the help of a laparoscopic camera. Energy consumptions were measured using the Oxycon Mobile system during all the procedures. Error rate and duration time for simulated surgery were recorded. After performing the simulated surgery, subjects scored how comfortable they felt using the armrest. RESULTS: It was found that O(2) uptake (VO(2)) was 5 % less when surgeons used the armrest. The error rate when performing the procedure with the armrest was 35 % compared with 42.29 % without the armrest. Additionally, comfort levels with the armrest were higher than without the armrest. 75 % of surgeons indicated a preference for using the armrest during the simulated surgery. CONCLUSION: The armrest provides support for surgeons and cuts energy consumption during simulated MAS.
Authors: Benjamin Steinhilber; Sascha Hoffmann; Kristian Karlovic; Stefan Pfeffer; Thomas Maier; Omar Hallasheh; Stephan Kruck; Robert Seibt; Monika A Rieger; Michael Heidingsfeld; Ronny Feuer; Oliver Sawodny; Ralf Rothmund; Karl-Dietrich Sievert Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2014-12-25 Impact factor: 4.584