Identifying Workflow Disruptions in Robotic-Assisted Bariatric Surgery: Elucidating Challenges Experienced by Surgical Teams.

PURPOSE: Bariatric surgery is an effective and durable treatment for weight loss for patients with extreme obesity. Although traditionally approached laparoscopically, robotic bariatric surgery (RBS) has unique benefits for both surgeons and patients. Nonetheless, the technological complexity of robotic surgery presents new challenges for OR teams and the wider clinical system. Further assessment of the role of RBS in delivering quality care for patients with obesity is necessary and can be done through a human factors approach. This observational study sought to investigate the impact of RBS on the surgical work system via the study of flow disruptions (FDs), or deviations from the natural workflow progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RBS procedures were observed between October 2019 and March 2022. FDs were recorded in real time and subsequently classified into one of nine work system categories. Coordination FDs were further classified into additional sub-categories. RESULTS: Twenty-nine RBS procedures were observed at three sites. An average FD rate of 25.05 (CI = ± 2.77) was observed overall. FDs were highest between insufflation and robot docking (M = 29.37, CI = ± 4.01) and between patient closing and wheels out (M = 30.00, CI = ± 6.03). FD rates due to coordination issues were highest overall, occurring once every 4 min during docking (M = 14.28, CI = ± 3.11). CONCLUSION: FDs occur roughly once every 2.4 min and happen most frequently during the final patient transfer and robot docking phases of RBS. Coordination challenges associated with waiting for staff/instruments not readily available and readjusting equipment contributed most to these disruptions.

A Novel Approach for Engagement in Team Training in High-Technology Surgery: The Robotic-Assisted Surgery Olympics.

INTRODUCTION: There is ongoing interest in the development of technical and nontechnical skills in healthcare to improve safety and efficiency; however, barriers to developing and delivering related training programs make them difficult to implement. Unique approaches to training such as "serious games" may offer ways to motivate teams, reinforce skill acquisition, and promote teamwork. Given increased challenges to teamwork in robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), researchers aimed to develop the "RAS Olympics," a game-based educational competition to improve skills needed to successfully perform RAS. METHODS: This pilot study was conducted at an academic medical center in Southern California. Robotic-assisted surgery staff were invited to participate in the "RAS Olympics" to develop their skills and identify opportunities to improve processes. Impact of the activity was assessed using surveys and debriefs. RESULTS: Sixteen operating room team members participated and reacted favorably toward the RAS-Olympics (average score, 4.5/5). They enjoyed the activity, would recommend all staff participate, felt that it was relevant to their work, and believed that they practiced and learned new techniques that would improve their practice. Confidence in skills remained unchanged. Participants preferred the RAS Olympics to traditional training because it provided an interactive learning environment. CONCLUSIONS: The successful implementation of the RAS Olympics provided insight into new opportunities to engage surgical staff members while also training technical and nontechnical skills. Furthermore, this shared experience allowed surgical staff members to gain a greater appreciation for their teammates and an understanding of the current challenges and methods to improve teamwork and communication while promoting safety and efficiency in RAS.

Improving safety in the operating room: Medication icon labels increase visibility and discrimination.

Misreading labels, syringes, and ampoules is reported to make up a 54.4% of medication administration errors. The addition of icons to medication labels in an operating room setting could add additional visual cues to the label, allowing for improved discrimination, visibility, and easily processed information that might reduce medication administration errors. A multi-disciplinary team proposed a method of enhancing visual cues and visibility of medication labels applied to vasoactive medication infusions by adding icons to the labels. Participants were 1.12 times more likely to correctly identify medications from farther away (p < 0.001, AOR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.22) with icons. When icons were present, participants were 2.16 times more likely to be more confident in their identifications (p < 0.001, AOR = 2.16, 95%CI: 1.80, 2.57). Carefully designed icons may offer an additional method for identifying medications, and thus reducing medication administration errors.

Addressing misconceptions of flow disruption studies in "Is non-stop always better? Examining assumptions behind the concept of flow disruptions in studies of robot-assisted surgery".

This letter to the editor provides a response to "Is non-stop always better? Examining assumptions behind the concept of flow disruptions in studies of robot-assisted surgery." The authors provide much needed clarification on misconceptions of flow disruption studies. The evolving methodology is not aimed at creating a "non-stop" flow, or optimizing efficiency, but understanding the clinical process from a systems perspective.