Dedicated minimally invasive surgery suites increase operating room efficiency

• Published in: Surgical endoscopy Vol. 15; no. 10; pp. 1140 - 1143
• Main Authors: KENYON, T. A. G, URBACH, D. R, SPEER, J. B, WATERMAN-HUKARI, B, FORAKER, G. F, HANSEN, P. D, SWANSTRÖM, L. L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01.10.2001; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cost control; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Efficiency; Efficiency, Organizational; Innovations; Laparoscopy; Laparoscopy - economics; Medical sciences; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures - economics; Nursing; Nursing Staff, Hospital; Operating Rooms - economics; Operating Rooms - organization & administration; Simulation; Surgeons; Surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Task Performance and Analysis; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Video equipment; Video-Assisted Surgery - economics; United States > US; Concept; Human; Efficiency; Health economy; Operating room; Surgery; Laparoscopic surgery; Endoscopy; Cost analysis; Minimal processing; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0930-2794; 1432-2218
• DOI: 10.1007/s004640080092

The rapid adoption of laparoscopic surgery since the late 1980s added tremendous complexity into the operating room (OR) environment. For each case, a plethora of additional equipment-including monitors, video equipment, wiring, tubing, and cords-had to be set up, prolonging OR turnover time and decreasing OR efficiency. In 1993, the concept of designated minimally invasive surgery (MIS) suites was introduced. MIS suites integrated monitors and video equipment into the OR on ceiling-mounted columns and moved the controls to a centralized nursing station. The overall effect of this innovation on OR efficiency has not been measured. Five RNs with varying degrees of MIS experience were instructed on video setup and put-away criteria and then timed while performing a set of standardized tasks. Each set of tasks was performed twice using a standardized surgery model. Differences in setup and put-away times between MIS suites and standard ORs were tested using the t-test for paired comparisons. The mean +/- standard deviation (SD) video setup times were 27.9 +/- 5.3 sec (MIS) and 254.3 +/- 54.0 sec (standard); the put-away times were 19.8 +/- 2.7 sec (MIS) and 222.3 +/- 26.0 sec (standard). The mean difference +/- standard error (SE) in both the setup (226.4 +/- 16.9 sec, p = 0.0001) and put-away times (202.5 +/- 8.6, p = 0.0001) were large and statistically significant. Using a simulation model, we have demonstrated that the use of a MIS suite reduces video setup and put-away time significantly, with the potential for significant associated cost savings. This provides just one justification for the high cost of building such "ORs of the future."