3D presentation in surgery: a review of technology and adverse effects

Visualisation ergonomics and robotic surgery

Stereopsis may be an advantage of robotic surgery. Perceived robotic ergonomic advantages in visualisation include better exposure, three-dimensional vision, surgeon camera control, and line of sight screen location. Other ergonomic factors relating to visualisation include stereo-acuity, vergence-accommodation mismatch, visual-perception mismatch, visual-vestibular mismatch, visuospatial ability, visual fatigue, and visual feedback to compensate for lack of haptic feedback. Visual fatigue symptoms may be related to dry eye or accommodative/binocular vision stress. Digital eye strain can be measured by questionnaires and objective tests. Management options include treatment of dry eye, correction of refractive error, and management of accommodation and vergence anomalies. Experienced robotic surgeons can use visual cues like tissue deformation and surgical tool information as surrogates for haptic feedback.

Short-term comparative study of three-dimensional and two-dimensional laparoscopic surgery for total extraperitoneal primary inguinal hernia repair

Purpose

The aim of this study was to compare the short-term outcomes of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopic surgery for total extraperitoneal (TEP) primary inguinal hernia repair.

Methods

This was a single-center, retrospective, observational database study of 38 patients who underwent laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair from March 1, 2019 to August 30, 2019 at Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong in Seoul, Korea.

Results

There was no significant difference in sex ratio, age, or body mass index between the two groups. The 2D group had two patients with direct hernia and 18 patients with indirect hernia. The 3D group had five patients with direct hernia, 11 patients with indirect hernia, and two patients with femoral hernia. The mean operation time was 38.2 minutes in the 2D group compared with 37.2 minutes in the 3D group. There was no severe intraoperative bleeding in either group. During the operation, peritoneal tearing occurred in 12 out of 20 patients in the 2D group compared with five out of 18 patients in the 3D group (p = 0.02). The average length of hospital stay was 1.3 days in both groups. The numeric rating scale score was 3.3 and 3 in the 2D group and the 3D group, respectively. In the 2D group, two patients revisited the outpatient clinic because of the postoperative occurrence of seroma and varicocele.

Conclusion

A 3D laparoscopic surgery is feasible and safe for inguinal hernia repair and showed less peritoneal tearing compared with 2D laparoscopic surgery for primary inguinal hernia repair.

Robotic colorectal surgery and ergonomics

Improved ergonomics for the operating surgeon may be an advantage of robotic colorectal surgery. Perceived robotic ergonomic advantages in visualisation include better exposure, three-dimensional vision, surgeon camera control, and line of sight screen location. Postural advantages include seated position and freedom from the constraints of the sterile operating field. Manipulation benefits include articulated instruments with seven degrees of freedom movement, elimination of fulcrum effect, tremor filtration, and scaling of movement. Potential ergonomic detriments of robotic surgery include lack of haptic feedback, visual, and mental strain from increased operating time and interruptions to workflow from crowding.