Audio-video recording during laparoscopic surgery reduces irrelevant conversation between surgeons: a cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundThe prevalence of perioperative surgical complications is a worldwide issue: In many cases, these events are preventable. Audio-video recording during laparoscopic surgery provides useful information for the purposes of education and event analyses, and may have an impact on the focus of the surgeons operating. The aim of the present study was to investigate how audio-video recording in the operating room during laparoscopic surgery affects the focus of the surgeon and his/her assistant.MethodsA group of laparoscopic procedures where video recording only was performed was compared to a group where both audio and video recordings were made. All laparoscopic procedures were performed at Lindesberg Hospital, Sweden, during the period August to September 2017. The primary outcome was conversation not relevant to the ongoing procedure. Secondary outcomes were intra- and postoperative adverse events or complications, operation time and number of times the assistant was corrected by the surgeon.ResultsThe study included 41 procedures, 20 in the video only group and 21 in the audio-video group. The material comprised laparoscopic cholecystectomies, totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repairs and bariatric surgical procedures. Irrelevant conversation time fell from 4.2% of surgical time to 1.4% when both audio and video recordings were made (p = 0.002). No differences in perioperative adverse event or complication rates were seen.ConclusionAudio-video recording during laparoscopic abdominal surgery reduces irrelevant conversation time and may improve intraoperative safety and surgical outcome.Trial registrationAvailable at FOU Sweden (ID: 232771) and retrospectively at Clinical trials.gov (ID: NCT03425175; date of registration 7/2 2018).

Patient Perceptions of Audio and Video Recording in the Operating Room

“…Continuous audio-video recording in the operating room has the potential to benefit both surgeons and patients through surgeon 13,14 and patient 15,16 education; surgeon 17,18 and surgical team 19,20 performance evaluation; and Al-driven quality improvement. 21,22,23,24 Despite these potential benefits, there is minimal understanding of how these devices are viewed by patients.…”

2020 WSES guidelines for the detection and management of bile duct injury during cholecystectomy

“…If possible, a drawing of the BDI with biliary drainage positioning (if used) could be helpful. If a videotape of the surgical procedure is available, it should be added to the report [107][108][109].…”

Evolution of the digital operating room: the place of video technology in surgery

“…The awareness by surgical staff of video recording in the surgical setting may also be inherently advantageous. A study in 2018 showed there was a significant decrease in irrelevant conversation time following the implementation of audio-visual recording in the surgical environment (4.2 to 1.4% of surgical time), though a link between irrelevant conversation times and adverse events was not established in this study [ 18 ]. Through an observational study, Tschan et al found that increased irrelevant conversation time was independently correlated with an increased incidence of surgical site infections, conversely case relevant communication associated with a lower incidence, highlighting the clinical value of audio-visual data [ 19 ].…”