Psychological and physical stress in surgeons operating in a standard or modern operating room.
OBJECTIVE
There have been no studies examining the effect of optimized ergonomic and technical environment on the psychological and physiological stress of the surgeon. The aim of this study was to examine whether optimized ergonomics and technical aids within a modern operating room (OR) affect psychological and physiological stress in experienced laparoscopic surgeons.


METHODS
This was a prospective case-controlled study including 10 experienced surgeons. Surgery was performed in 2 different ORs: a standard room and a modern room (OR1-suite, Karl Storz). The surgeons filled out questionnaires concerning physical and psychological wellbeing before and after surgery and had their heart rate variability registered during surgery.


RESULTS
Preoperative to postoperative physical strain and pain measurements revealed a systematical difference with 14 of 15 parameters favoring the modern OR. Two of these parameters reached statistical significance. We did not find any significant differences in the subjective parameters of surgeon satisfaction or the measured heart rate variability parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Physical strain on the surgeon was reduced when performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a modern OR compared with a standard room.
Klein
Mads
M
Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev Ringvej, Herlev, Denmark. madsklein@hotmail.com
Andersen
Lars Peter Holst
LP
Alamili
Mahdi
M
Gögenur
Ismail
I
Rosenberg
Jacob
J
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000295:instrumentation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires