Cybertools improve reaction time in open heart surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Head-up displays allow the surgeons to simultaneously view the patient and the patient's vital parameters (ECG, blood pressure, etc.) using vision-through over a wireless net, potentially enhancing the speed, accuracy and safety of surgical decisions. The aim was to assess surgical reaction time to AFIB, bigeminy, trigeminy, VTACH, and VFIB and concentration during a surgical intervention comparing standard and cyber tools monitoring.


METHODS
Using a patient simulator for beating heart surgery able to emulate heart signals and motion (arrhythmias) a group of surgeons performed coronary bypass procedures. Measurements of reaction time, efficiency of the surgeon, time elapsed to display a coronary angiography in a realistic surgical environment were taken.


RESULTS
The duration to accomplish the experiment is not different between groups (cyber vs. standard) reaction times, however, are significantly decreased for cyber by a mean of 33%. There is also a measured time difference for displaying a coronary angiography within the head-up display as compared to a remote console.


CONCLUSIONS
During surgery, modern cyber tools allow for significant improvements of reaction time and concentration due to real time access to vital information.
Beuchat
Antoine
A
Department of Cardio-vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon 46, Lausanne CH-1011, Switzerland. abeuchat@storebyte.com
Taub
Steven
S
Saby
Jean-Damien
JD
Dierick
Vincent
V
Codeluppi
Gianmarco
G
Corno
Antonio F
AF
von Segesser
Ludwig K
LK
D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003626:Data Display; D003657:Decision Making; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D004581:Electronics; D006801:Humans; D008348:Manikins; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time; D013525:Surgical Instruments