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Published on: September 11, 2021
Results of a randomized trial of HERMES-assisted versus non-HERMES-assisted laparoscopic antireflux surgery
J D Luketich1, H C Fernando, P O Buenaventura
1Minimally Invasive Surgery Center and Division of Thoracic and Foregut Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System, 200 Lothrop Street Suite C-800, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. luketichjd@msx.upmc.edu
Background:
Speech recognition technology is a recent development in minimally invasive surgery. This study was designed to assess the impact of HERMES on operating room efficiency and user satisfaction.
Methods:
Patients undergoing laparoscopic antireflux operations by surgeons experienced in minimally invasive surgery were randomized to HERMES-assisted or standard laparoscopic operations. The variables of interest were circulating nurse's time spent adjusting devices that are voice-controlled by HERMES, number of adjustments to devices requested, and surgeon and nurse satisfaction measured on a scale from 1 (dissatisfied) to 10 (satisfied).
Results:
A total of 30 cases were studied. In the non-HERMES cases, nurses were interrupted to make device adjustments an average of 15.3 times per case versus 0.33 times per case in the with-HERMES cases (p < 0.01). The interruptions during the non-HERMES cases averaged 4.35 min per case versus 0.16 min per case in the with-HERMES cases (p = 0.03). Average satisfaction scores for HERMES operations as opposed to non-HERMES operations were 9.2 versus 5.3 for nurses (p < 0.01) and 9.0 versus 5.1 for surgeons (p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
Physician and nurse acceptance of HERMES was very high because of the smoother interruption-free environment.
