Hierarchical Task Analysis Reimagined as a Planning Tool for Surgery During Exploration Space Flight

Area of Science:

• Space Medicine
• Surgical Simulation

Background:

• Space exploration necessitates planning for in-flight medical emergencies, including acute surgical care.
• Laparoscopic appendectomy, a routine Earth procedure, presents unique challenges in microgravity due to altered physics and limited resources.

Approach:

• Developed an expanded Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) model to deconstruct laparoscopic appendectomy for non-surgeons.
• Iterative content development involved literature review, expert feedback, video analysis, and cadaveric simulation.
• Integrated instructional designers, medical experts, and media production for a comprehensive approach.

Key Points:

• The expanded HTA model detailed 178 actions, 13 columns, and included video links for training.
• Identified 13 areas needing further research for microgravity adaptation.
• Successfully simulated a laparoscopic appendectomy on a cadaver using 30 items and a simplified crew role.
• Highlighted 8 generalizable skills and 27 multipurpose supply/equipment items.

Conclusions:

• An expanded HTA effectively deconstructs surgical procedures for extreme environments.
• This methodology facilitates integrated crew training, supply review, and adaptation strategies for spaceflight surgery.
• The approach proved valuable in identifying necessary modifications for performing surgery in microgravity.