Comparison of success rates, learning curves, and inter-subject performance variability of robot-assisted and manual ultrasound-guided nerve block needle guidance in simulation.
Br J Anaesth
; 112(6): 1092-7, 2014 Jun.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24464610
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
This study focuses on a recently developed robotic nerve block system and its impact on learning regional anaesthesia skills. We compared success rates, learning curves, performance times, and inter-subject performance variability of robot-assisted vs manual ultrasound (US)-guided nerve block needle guidance. The hypothesis of this study is that robot assistance will result in faster skill acquisition than manual needle guidance.METHODS:
Five co-authors with different experience with nerve blocks and the robotic system performed both manual and robot-assisted, US-guided nerve blocks on two different nerves of a nerve phantom. Ten trials were performed for each of the four procedures. Time taken to move from a shared starting position till the needle was inserted into the target nerve was defined as the performance time. A successful block was defined as the insertion of the needle into the target nerve. Average performance times were compared using analysis of variance. P<0.05 was considered significant. Data presented as mean (standard deviation).RESULTS:
All blocks were successful. There were significant differences in performance times between co-authors to perform the manual blocks, either superficial (P=0.001) or profound (P=0.0001); no statistical difference between co-authors was noted for the robot-assisted blocks. Linear regression indicated that the average decrease in time between consecutive trials for robot-assisted blocks of 1.8 (1.6) s was significantly (P=0.007) greater than the decrease for manual blocks of 0.3 (0.3) s.CONCLUSIONS:
Robot assistance of nerve blocks allows for faster learning of needle guidance over manual positioning and reduces inter-subject performance variability.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Computer Simulation
/
Robotics
/
Computer-Assisted Instruction
/
Clinical Competence
/
Ultrasonography, Interventional
/
Learning Curve
/
Nerve Block
Type of study:
Guideline
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Br J Anaesth
Year:
2014
Document type:
Article