Evaluation of a remote-controlled laparoscopic camera holder for basic laparoscopic skills acquisition: a randomized...

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Laparoscopic surgery presents a steep learning curve due to unsteady camera control and poor visualization.
• Remote-controlled camera holders (RCHs) are designed to address these challenges and facilitate surgical skill acquisition.
• This study evaluates the performance benefits of RCHs for novice laparoscopic surgeons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a remote-controlled camera holder (RCH) on laparoscopic skill acquisition in surgical novices.
• To compare the learning efficiency and perceived workload between using an RCH and a human camera assistant (HCA).

Main Methods:

• Novices were randomized into groups using either a human camera assistant (HCA) or the FreeHand v1.0 RCH.
• Participants underwent training using the Essentials of Basic Laparoscopic Urological Skills (E-BLUS) curriculum.
• Surgical workload was assessed using the Surgical Task Load Index (SURG-TLX) questionnaire post-training.

Main Results:

• The RCH group achieved competency faster in peg transfer (5.5 vs 7.6 sessions) and laparoscopic suturing (3.6 vs 6.8 sessions) compared to the HCA group (P < 0.05).
• No significant differences were observed in circle cutting or needle guidance tasks.
• The RCH group reported significantly lower workload and distraction levels (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Remote-controlled camera holders show significant potential to enhance intra-operative performance and surgical training by minimizing camera-related distractions.
• Further high-quality clinical studies are warranted to validate the efficacy of RCHs in real-world surgical practice.