[The 'Surgical Deck': a new generation of integrated operational rooms for ENT]

Existing operating room concepts do not meet modern technological opportunities anymore. The "Surgical Deck" is supposed to represent a prototype for a new operating room generation. The objective of the project is to achieve a better integration of functions and to develop an innovative concept for a highly developed surgical workstation.

3 working areas are defined: Surgical, Airway and Technical Cockpit. The evaluation was conducted on 284 surgeries carried out from 01.08. 2011 to 31.01. 2012. The evaluation team consisted of 6 surgeons, 3 surgery nurses, 3 anesthesiologists and 4 anesthesia nurses. Within a detailed analysis, the data of 50 FESS surgeries were compared to those of a control group.

Within the FESS group, the average slot time was reduced by 13%. 88.2% of those questioned assessed ergonomics as being better than in the conventional OR. 71.5% stated that the Surgical Deck provided an added value with regard to the surgical procedure. 91.3% confirmed that the system control required additional training. 79.3% described the cost-benefit-ratio as appropriate. For 96% of the surgeries, respondents said that they were feeling adequately supported by the technology.

The results show a clear advantage of the system architecture. The Surgical Deck may present a solid foundation with regard to the transfer of the system into the clinical practice. This is relevant for new assistance functions such as process control software or navigation-based collision warning systems. It is to be expected that the project will significantly contribute to further develop the future surgical workstation and its standardization.