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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
Published on: August 8, 2019
Impact of fatigue on neurophysiologic measures of surgical residents
Kanav Kahol1, Marshall Smith, Jared Brandenberger
1Human Machine Symbiosis Laboratory, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA. Kanav@asu.edu
Background:
To gain additional insight into the impact of fatigue on surgery resident proficiency, we set out to quantify its impact on behavioral and neurophysiologic measures.
Study Design:
Simulations were first created using a visio-haptic joystick attached to a surgical instrument (tool) that allows realistic interactions. Before baseline (pre-call) and after call, 7 PGY1 surgery residents performed simulation tasks that required varying levels of psychomotor and cognitive skill. Residents completed 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks. Surgical proficiency was established using 5 metrics: hand movement smoothness; instrument movement smoothness; time to task completion; gesture level proficiency and cognitive errors. Data (percent change from baseline, pre-call) were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. While performing these tasks, the residents also wore an EEG cap (B-Alert; Advanced Brain Monitoring), the data from which provided second to second insight into the effects of workload, distraction, and attention on task performance. Mean (±SD) pre-call and post-call values for each were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA.
Results:
Residents experienced significant (p < 0.014) post-call erosions in surgical proficiency, punctuated by dramatic increases in cognitive errors. EEG-based attention scores showed a significant (p < 0.014) concomitant decrement of 40%; distraction/drowsiness scores increased by 91%; and workload score increased by 51%.
Conclusions:
Fatigue adversely affects PGY1 resident surgical proficiency and neurophysiologic performance.
