[Ergonomics in laparoscopic surgery and its importance in surgical training]

Pediatric colorectal robotic surgery

Robotic colorectal surgery allows adult and pediatric surgeons to overcome the technical limitations of laparoscopic surgery. It also provides improved ergonomics in the field of surgery. Robotic surgery has several advantages in colorectal operations that require complex minimally invasive skills including anorectal malformations, Hirschsprung disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. In this section, we discuss the key aspects of colorectal surgery where robotic instrumentation seems ideal.

Gender equity in ergonomics: does muscle effort in laparoscopic surgery differ between men and women?

BACKGROUND

Women surgeons may experience more ergonomic challenges while performing surgery. We aimed to assess ergonomics between men and women surgeons.

METHODS

Laparoscopic surgeons from a single institution were enrolled. Demographics and intraoperative data were collected. Muscle groups were evaluated objectively using surface electromyography (EMG; TrignoTM, Delsys, Inc., Natick, MA), and comprised upper trapezius (UT), anterior deltoid, flexor carpi radialis (FCR), and extensor digitorum (ED). Comparisons were made between women (W) and men (M) for each muscle group, assessing maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and median frequency (MDF). The Piper Fatigue Scale-12 (PFS-12) was used to assess self-perceived fatigue. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v26.0, α = 0.05.

RESULTS

18 surgeries were recorded (W:8, M:10). Women had higher activation of UT (32% vs 23%, p < 0.001), FCR (33% vs 16%, p < 0.001), and ED (13% vs 10%, p < 0.001), and increased effort of ED (90.4 ± 18.13 Hz vs 99.1 ± 17.82 Hz). Comparisons were made between W and M for each muscle group, assessing MVC and MDF.

CONCLUSIONS

After controlling for surgeon's height and duration of surgery, an increase in muscle activation was seen for women laparoscopic surgeons. Since poor ergonomics could be a major cause of work-related injuries, we must understand differences in ergonomics between men and women and evaluate which factors impact these variations.

A laparoscopic study investigating 3D vs 2D imaging systems using a pelvitrainer model with experts, non-experts, and students

BACKGROUND

Vision is an essential element of laparoscopic surgery that defines the outcome of an operation in regards to time, mistakes and precision. A 3-dimensional (3D) perspective may improve vision during an operation. Therefore, this study was designed to compare 3D versus 2-dimensional (2D) perspectives using a pelvitrainer model.

METHODS

Fifty candidates were divided into 3 categories based on different experience levels. The candidates were randomised into two groups, with each group performing the same 4 standardised tasks. Group A approached the tasks first with 3D high definition and in a second turn with 2D high definition. Group B carried out the tasks with the systems in reverse order. Task completion time and the number of mistakes made for each task were recorded. After completing the tasks, participants answered questions concerning the two systems.

RESULTS

Group A was, on average, 20% faster at all four tasks and made approximately 18% fewer mistakes in two of the tasks in comparison to group B. The experts significantly benefited from the 3D system in terms of accuracy compared to non-experts and students. The students demonstrated a significantly greater benefit from the 3D system when performing non-linear, continuous movements. Loss of concentration occurred at the same rate for subjects using the 2D and 3D systems. Nausea and dizziness were reported only when working with the 3D system. 91% found the 3D system advantageous for accomplishing the tasks.

CONCLUSIONS

Irrespective of experience level, 3D laparoscopy shows advantages in saving time, increasing accuracy and reducing mistakes. These benefits were also accompanied by subjective advantages that were noted by the participants. However, the more complex the task, the less significant the benefit of the 3D system and some people feel handicapped by the eyewear.

Validation of Training and Acquisition of Surgical Skills in Veterinary Laparoscopic Surgery: A Review

At present, veterinary laparoscopic surgery training is lacking in experiences that provide a controlled and safe environment where surgeons can practice specific techniques while receiving experts' feedback. Surgical skills acquired using simulators must be certified and transferable to the operating room. Most models for practicing laparoscopic skills in veterinary minimally invasive surgery are general task trainers and consist of boxes (simulators) designed for training human surgery. These simulators exhibit several limitations, including anatomic species and procedural differences, as well as general psychomotor training rather than in vivo skill recreation. In this paper, we review the existing methods of training, evaluation, and validation of technical skills in veterinary laparoscopic surgery. Content includes global and specific scales, and the conditions a structured curriculum should meet for improving the performance of novice surgeons during and after training. A focus on trainee-specific assessment and tailored-technical instruction should influence training programs. We provide a comprehensive analysis of current theories and concepts related to the evaluation and validation of simulators for training laparoscopic surgery in small animal surgery. We also highlight the need to develop new training models and complementary evaluation scales for the validation of training and acquisition of basic and advanced skills in veterinary laparoscopic surgery.

Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Surgeons and Interventionalists: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance

Physicians in procedural specialties are at high risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This has been called "an impending epidemic" in the context of the looming workforce shortage; however, prevalence estimates vary by study.

Objectives

To estimate the prevalence of work-related MSDs among at-risk physicians and to evaluate the scope of preventive efforts.

Data Sources and Study Selection

Systematic search in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), Web of Science, PubMed (National Center for Biotechnology Information), and 2 clinical trial registries, without language restriction, for studies reporting on the prevalence and prevention of work-related MSDs among at-risk physicians published until December 2016. The Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines for meta-analyses and systematic reviews of observational studies were used. At-risk physicians were defined as surgeons and medical interventionalists. Studies reporting on specific disorders or pain assessed with validated instruments were included.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Study characteristics; disease prevalence for the neck, shoulder, back, and upper extremity; and measures of resulting disability were recorded. Study estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analytic models.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Career prevalence of injuries and 12-month prevalence of pain.

Results

Among 21 articles (5828 physicians [mean age, 46.0 years; 78.5% male; 12.8 years in practice; 14.4 hours performing procedures per week]) included in this systematic review and meta-analysis, pooled crude prevalence estimates of the most common work-related MSDs were degenerative cervical spine disease in 17% (457 of 2406 physicians) (95% CI, 12%-25%), rotator cuff pathology in 18% (300 of 1513 physicians) (95% CI, 13%-25%), degenerative lumbar spine disease in 19% (544 of 2449 physicians) (95% CI, 5%-16%), and carpal tunnel syndrome in 9% (256 of 2449 physicians) (95% CI, 5%-16%). From 1997 to 2015, the prevalence of degenerative cervical spine disease and degenerative lumbar spine disease increased by 18.3% and 27%, respectively. Pooled prevalence estimates for pain ranged from 35% to 60% and differed by assessment instrument. Of those with a work-related MSD, 12% (277 of 2319 physicians) (95% CI, 7%-18%) required a leave of absence, practice restriction or modification, or early retirement. Heterogeneity was considerable for all crude analyses (mean I2 = 93.5%) but was lower for sensitivity analyses (mean I2 = 72.3%). Interventions focused on products and behaviors. Twelve at-risk specialties described a gross lack of awareness and an unmet need for ergonomics education.

Conclusions and Relevance

Prevalence estimates of work-related MSDs among at-risk physicians appear to be high. Further research is needed to develop and validate an evidence-based applied ergonomics program aimed at preventing these disorders in this population.

Performance of Kymerax© precision-drive articulating surgical system compared to conventional laparoscopic instruments in a pelvitrainer model

BACKGROUND

The Kymerax© Precision-Drive Articulating Surgical System by Terumo© is a handheld laparoscopic robot which permits motion in two additional degrees of freedom (deflection and rotation in the instrument tip). In a pelvitrainer model, we compared the performance of participants with different laparoscopic experiences and compared Kymerax© to conventional laparoscopic instruments.

METHODS

20 expert surgeons, performing more than 50 laparoscopic procedures per year, and 25 medical students without any experience in surgery at all were selected. Each participant was randomized into two groups: Group TK performed the tasks using the traditional laparoscopic Instruments (TLI) first and Kymerax© thereafter, group KT vice versa. Six standardized tasks were used: Two instructional exercises and four tasks where time, number of mistakes, and overall precision were measured. Finally, a questionnaire had to be answered.

RESULTS

All four tasks were performed significantly more slowly with the Kymerax© device. Improved needle control in stitches towards the surgeon, significantly less deviation while cutting along different lines as well as a significantly reduced fraying of the cutting edge were found when participants were using Kymerax©. By questionnaire more than 90% of the participants indicated clear advantages using Kymerax©. However, participants needed more training time and had an earlier loss of concentration with Kymerax©. Further complaints about Kymerax© were its limitations in rotation and deflection, the impaired view as well as the non-ergonomic instrument handle. Rotation force, instrument weight, digital instrument-tip control, and needle fixation were rated as accurate.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that more time is needed to solve tasks with Kymerax© compared to conventional laparoscopic instruments. Kymerax© is superior to conventional laparoscopy for suturing at difficult angles and cutting along complex structures. Kymerax© can potentially bring benefits for certain laparoscopic tasks, but as seen in this study, further developments are necessary. Terumo© meanwhile closed down its Kymerax

A research review on clinical needs, technical requirements, and normativity in the design of surgical robots

Nowadays robots play an important role in society, mainly due to the significant benefits they provide when utilized for assisting human beings in the execution of dangerous or repetitive tasks. Medicine is one of the fields in which robots are gaining greater use and development, especially those employed in minimally invasive surgery (MIS). However, due to the particular conditions of the human body where robots have to act, the design of these systems is complex, not only from a technical point of view, but also because the clinical needs and the normativity aspects are important considerations that have to be taken into account in order to achieve better performances and more secure systems for patients and surgeons. Thus, this paper explores the clinical needs and the technical requirements that will trace the roadmap for the next scientific and technological advances in the field of robotic surgery, the metrics that should be defined for safe technology development and the standards that are being elaborated for boosting the industry and facilitating systems integration.

Objective analysis of surgeons' ergonomy during laparoendoscopic single-site surgery through the use of surface electromyography and a motion capture data glove

BACKGROUND

Adding to the ergonomic inconveniences already presented by traditional laparoscopy (LAP), laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery has been found to entail other more specific problems, including greater reduction in movement freedom, in-line vision with loss of triangulation, and greater proximity of instruments. The objective of this study was to evaluate surgeons' ergonomy during LESS surgery, through the study of muscular activity, wrist angle, and hand movements, and compare it with conventional laparoscopy.

METHODS

The study group was composed by 14 experienced laparoscopic surgeons, all right-handed. Each one performed dissection tasks on a physical simulator through LAP and LESS approaches. For LAP, straight laparoscopic scissors and dissector were used, whilst for LESS articulating tip scissors and dissector were chosen. During both tasks, muscular activity of biceps brachii, triceps brachii, forearm flexors and extensors, and trapezius muscles was registered through surface electromyography. Simultaneously right-hand movements and wrist angles were obtained through a motion capture data glove (CyberGlove(®)), which allowed for the use of a modified RULA test applied to the recorded angles with subsequent establishment of risk levels for the wrist joint.

RESULTS

Muscular activity for trapezius (LAP 6.94 ± 4.12 vs. LESS 11.32 ± 4.68; p ≤ 0.05) and forearm extensor muscles (LAP 9.2 ± 2.45 vs. LESS 37.07 ≤ 16.05; p ≤ 0.001) was significantly lower in conventional laparoscopy compared with LESS approach. No statistical significance was obtained between the different sensors, except in 3 of the 11 analyzed CyberGlove(®) sensors. The modified RULA test showed a score of 3 for laparoscopy (unacceptable), whereas for LESS a score of 2 was obtained (acceptable), with statistically significant differences between them (p ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The LESS approach entails greater level of muscular activity in the trapezius and forearm extensor muscles, but we have found evidences of a better wrist position during LESS compared with traditional laparoscopy.

An Analysis of Skills Acquisition During a Training Program for Experienced Laparoscopists in Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgery

Background. Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery has been presented in the past few years as an innovative minimally invasive approach, one which despite its advantages is also challenging and requires specific training. We propose to analyze the performance of attendants in a specific LESS training course. Methods. Following the LESSCAR 2010 guidelines, we focused on level 1 hands-on simulator tasks and level 2 hands-on training on animal model for skills acquisition during a LESS-specific training course. Each attendant completed coordination and cut tasks on simulator, followed by a cholecystectomy on an ex vivo porcine liver. Hands-on animal model each trainee performed 1 cholecystectomy and at least 2 nephrectomies (N1, N2). Performance was analyzed through video recording and reviewed by 3 independent observers. Each result was registered according to a modified objective structured assessment of technical skills. Total task or procedure completion time was also determined. Results. Regarding coordination and cut tasks, attendants improved on their performance from first to third attempts with an accompanying decrease in completion time. Surgeons completed the cholecystectomy on animal model significantly faster than on simulator, although with lower performance quality. Regarding N1 and N2, attendants showed improvement both in quality and total completion time. Conclusions. A gradual and positive evolution of attendants was observed throughout the training course. Thus, we believe a structured program for the acquisition of basic skills in new minimally invasive surgical approaches should be recommended. Considering that this is a small study, it would be advisable to increase the number of study subjects on future opportunities.