Endo-Lap OR: an innovative "minimally invasive operating room" design.

BACKGROUND: A newly constructed Endoscopic-Laparoscopic operating room (Endo-Lap OR) started to operate in our department in January 2005. A prospective study was conducted to evaluate its feasibility, efficacy, and safety, as well as the staff's satisfaction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2005 to September 2005, all patients undergoing operation in this Endo-Lap OR were included in the study. The patient's diagnosis, types of operating procedures, incidents of operating failure (either due to the hardware or the software of Endo-Lap OR) that led to a delay in the patient's transfer or that extended the total operating time were recorded. In addition, questionnaires regarding staff satisfaction with the new operating room were distributed to nurses, anesthetists, and surgeons. RESULTS: A total of 640 cases were included in the study period, 245 cases of open surgery, 282 cases of laparoscopic surgery, 82 cases of endoscopic surgery, 17 cases of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, and 14 cases of combined endoscopic-laparoscopic surgery. There were no reported incidents of operating failure related to hardware or software problems. The overall staff satisfaction was excellent. CONCLUSIONS: The integration of endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery into this newly constructed Endo-Lap OR is feasible and safe. The running of the operating room was smooth and it received a high level of acceptance and satisfaction from different staff members.