Laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed by a single surgeon using a visual field tracking camera: early experience

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Technology
• Gastrointestinal Surgery

Background:

• Laparoscopic surgery often requires frequent repositioning of the laparoscope, which can be cumbersome.
• Current methods may necessitate multiple surgeons for optimal instrument manipulation and visualization.
• Developing advanced camera systems can enhance surgical workflow and reduce surgeon dependency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel visual field tracking camera for laparoscopic surgery.
• To evaluate the camera's capability to adjust the visual field without moving the laparoscope.
• To assess the feasibility of using this camera for single-surgeon laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Main Methods:

• A visual field tracking camera with integrated zoom and CCD slide mechanisms was employed.
• The camera allowed visual field expansion and shifting via a forceps switch or verbal command.
• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed on 12 patients, with some operations conducted by a single surgeon.

Main Results:

• All 12 cholecystectomies were completed successfully without any need to reposition the laparoscope.
• Seven operations were performed by a single surgeon, demonstrating the system's utility.
• The mean surgical time (76 +/- 17 min) was comparable to conventional multi-surgeon procedures.

Conclusions:

• The visual field tracking camera enables laparoscopic cholecystectomy without manual laparoscope adjustment.
• This technology supports the performance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy by a single surgeon.
• The system offers potential benefits for surgical efficiency and surgeon autonomy.