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Clinical Trial
. 2004 Oct-Dec;8(4):367-71.

Evaluation of operative imaging techniques in surgical education

Shanu N Kothari  1 , Timothy J Broderick, Eric J DeMaria, Ronald C Merrell
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Evaluation of operative imaging techniques in surgical education

Shanu N Kothari et al. JSLS. 2004 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Background: Certain open surgical procedures are difficult to observe, and poor visualization of the surgical field results in a compromised teaching environment for residents and medical students. In an attempt to improve the visualization of the open surgical field, we performed an open surgical procedure while viewing it via a laparoscope mounted to the side of the operating room table with an alpha port. These images were then compared in a blinded fashion with images from a boom-mounted camera positioned above the surgical field and a head-mounted camera positioned on the operating surgeon.

Methods: Participants viewed all 3 images from a remote location in a blinded, random fashion. All participants then completed a Likert questionnaire evaluating each image.

Results: Fourteen participants were in the study. The alpha port/laparoscope image was superior to the head-cam image in all 8 categories. The alpha port/laparoscope image was superior to the sky-cam image in 4 of 8 categories. All 14 participants felt the alpha port/laparoscope image would benefit surgical education

Conclusions: Use of a laparoscope mounted via an alpha port to an operating room table provides superior images during open surgery. This provides a unique and affordable way to teach residents and medical students operative procedures that are otherwise difficult to view.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Likert questionnaire used by all participants to evaluate surgical video images from the Alpha Port, Sky-Cam, and Head-Cam.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Hitachi 3CCC HVC-20 camera mounted on a large hydraulic-powered boom that is controlled by a joystick and connected to a JVC video monitor.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Head-Cam.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
A 45-degree laparoscope was positioned in a low-profile angle facing the operative field. It was held in place by the Alpha-port, which is a device mounted on the right side of the patient's bed and through which the laparoscope is passed to stabilize it and provide a pivot point.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Laparoscopic telescope attached proximally to an Aesop robot affixed to the operating table on the patient's right side.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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