A Novel Approach to Surgical Instructions for Scrub Nurses by Using See-Through-Type Head-Mounted Display

Area of Science:

• Surgical Technology
• Medical Education
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Scrub nurses require a thorough understanding of surgical procedures for effective assistance.
• Head-mounted displays (HMDs) offer potential as novel imaging and instructional tools in surgical settings.
• Improving intraoperative communication and status sharing between scrub nurses and surgeons is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively evaluate the utility of a see-through head-mounted display (HMD) as an intraoperative instructional tool for scrub nurses.
• To assess the impact of HMD use on scrub nurses' understanding of surgical procedures.
• To identify any adverse effects associated with HMD use during surgery.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving scrub nurses wearing a monocular see-through HMD during gasless laparoendoscopic single-port radical nephrectomy and prostatectomy.
• The HMD displayed intraoperative procedural instructions.
• Post-operative anonymous questionnaires assessed image quality, procedural understanding, and adverse events.

Main Results:

• Fifteen nurses were analyzed.
• The intraoperative use of HMDs aided scrub nurses in understanding the surgical procedure.
• No major adverse events related to HMD wear were reported.

Conclusions:

• See-through head-mounted displays represent a novel and useful tool for supporting scrub nurses during complex surgical procedures.
• This technology can enhance both technical and non-technical skills of surgical teams.
• HMDs facilitate better understanding and instrument management for scrub nurses, potentially improving surgical outcomes.