Use of real-time immersive digital training and educational technologies to improve patient safety during the processing of reusable medical devices: Quo Vadis?

Hospital acquired infections stemming from contaminated reusable medical devices are of increasing concern. This issue is exaggerated with the introduction of complex medical devices like endoscopes and robotic instrumentation. Although medical device manufacturers validate their cleaning instructions for use, evidence in the literature demonstrates that effective device processing is not being performed consistently within sterile processing departments in clinical settings. The result is increased risks to patient safety. As a solution to this problem, focused one-on-one training increases compliance to the medical device manufacturer's processing instruction. However, often this is not a practical solution for the volume of healthcare staff responsible for device processing activities. This constitutes the first paper to address the blended use of educational and digital technologies to address these challenges and as a result inform safety and sustainability for the medical device sector. Cognitive learning theory is an evidence-based framework for learning. It supports the use of immersive educational experiences using emerging extended reality technologies (e.g., virtual or augmented reality) to increase learning comprehension. The delivery of educational content via these technologies provides an innovative option for repeatable leaning and training outcomes. The motivation is to decrease patient risk of contaminated reusable medical devices. The proposed approach while primary motivated by safety can also enhance sustainability and efficiency enabled by artificial intelligence and robotic instrumentation.

Robot-assisted and augmented reality-assisted spinal instrumentation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of screw accuracy and outcomes over the last decade.

OBJECTIVE: The use of technology-enhanced methods in spine surgery has increased immensely over the past decade. Here, the authors present the largest systematic review and meta-analysis to date that specifically addresses patient-centered outcomes, including the risk of inaccurate screw placement and perioperative outcomes in spinal surgeries using robotic instrumentation and/or augmented reality surgical navigation (ARSN). METHODS: A systematic review of the literature in the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases spanning the last decade (January 2011-November 2021) was performed to present all clinical studies comparing robot-assisted instrumentation and ARSN with conventional instrumentation techniques in lumbar spine surgery. The authors compared these two technologies as they relate to screw accuracy, estimated blood loss (EBL), intraoperative time, length of stay (LOS), perioperative complications, radiation dose and time, and the rate of reoperation. RESULTS: A total of 64 studies were analyzed that included 11,113 patients receiving 20,547 screws. Robot-assisted instrumentation was associated with less risk of inaccurate screw placement (p < 0.0001) regardless of control arm approach (freehand, fluoroscopy guided, or navigation guided), fewer reoperations (p < 0.0001), fewer perioperative complications (p < 0.0001), lower EBL (p = 0.0005), decreased LOS (p < 0.0001), and increased intraoperative time (p = 0.0003). ARSN was associated with decreased radiation exposure compared with robotic instrumentation (p = 0.0091) and fluoroscopy-guided (p < 0.0001) techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, the pooled data suggest that technology-enhanced thoracolumbar instrumentation is advantageous for both patients and surgeons. As the technology progresses and indications expand, it remains essential to continue investigations of both robotic instrumentation and ARSN to validate meaningful benefit over conventional instrumentation techniques in spine surgery.

Radical prostatectomy: initial experience with robot-assisted laparoscopic procedures at a large university hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare oncological and functional outcomes between robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) and retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) during the initial phase with RALP at a large university hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patient and tumour characteristics, surgeon, nerve sparing, surgical margins and blood loss were recorded prospectively in patients who underwent RRP or RALP between April 2008 and May 2012. Patients filled out the Danish Prostate Symptom Score (DAN-PSS) and International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5) questionnaires before surgery and at follow-up and they were asked to report their use of pads/diapers. Potency was defined as an IIEF-5 score of at least 17 with or without phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. Patients using up to one pad daily for security reasons only were considered continent. Positive surgical margins, blood loss and functional outcomes were compared between groups. RESULTS: Overall, 453 patients were treated with RRP and 585 with RALP. On multivariate logistic regression analyses, the type of surgery did not affect surgical margins (p = 0.96) or potency at 12 months (p = 0.7). Patients who had undergone RRP had an increased chance of reporting subjective continence at 12 months (odds ratio 2.6, p = 0.014). There was no difference in the proportion of RRP and RALP patients who underwent surgical treatment for incontinence (p = 0.57). On multivariate linear regression analysis, RALP was an independent predictor of a low perioperative blood loss (RRP:RALP ratio = 2.89, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: RALP is a safe procedure with regard to perioperative and oncological results. However, it is important to be aware that functional outcomes may be compromised in the initial phase when introducing RALP.

A practical system for recording instrument interactions during live robotic surgery.

We have developed a system for measuring and recording the high-frequency vibrations that characterize instrument interactions during minimally invasive robotic surgery. Consisting of simple circuitry and a DVD recorder, this system is low-cost and easily implementable, requires no sterilization, and enables measurement of a validated, objective technical skill metric in both the simulated setting and the operating room. The vibration recordings of fourteen sleeve gastrectomies were processed by segmenting the operation into seven phases and calculating the root mean square (RMS) vibration within each phase. Statistical analysis showed that the observed differences match expectations drawn from knowledge of the operation, substantiating the premise that RMS vibration provides a good measure of the intensity of instrument interactions during live robotic surgery.