A new method for surgical consultations with videoconference

The aim of our prospective study was to examine the technical ability and the medical suitability of a realtime teleconferencing system in surgical consultations.

A personal computer-based-videoconferencing system was used over an architecture of the IP (Internet Protocol) over ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) area network connecting Satakunta Central Hospital, Pori with a health center in the community of Noormarkku (15 km apart from Pori). A document camera was used for transfering the radiographs and paper documents. The material consisted of 50 patients who needed surgical consultation. The patients were examined by a physician in the health center of Noormarkku, and the surgeon interviewed and observed the physical examination with the aid of teleconference.

Technically the videoconferencing system functioned reliably, and the visual quality of the videopicture was good after more powerful personal computers (Pentium II with a 266 MHz prosessor and 64 Megabits RAM-memory) were changed for the videoconferencing system. All patients, except one, saved the travelling to the face-to-face appointment because they got a definite decision of the treatment already at the videoconsultation. According to the opinion of the consulting surgeon, the decision which was made in the teleconference was good or very good, except in one case very poor. The physicians of the health centers were satisfied both with the decisions of the treatment of their patients and with the educational effect of a consultation where two physicians are present at the same time. All patients thought that it was good to be in consultation with two doctors.

Surgical videoconsultations are a reliable method and a real alternative to sending a patient to a distant place for consultation.