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Thomas B Piper1, Nikolaj A Nerup1, August A Olsen1
1Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Surgery Group (OGCS), Afdeling for Organkirurgi og Transplantation, Københavns Universitetshospital - Rigshospitalet.
Insights
Weaving Danish Christmas hearts by hand is faster and more elegant than using minimally invasive surgical techniques like laparoscopy or robotics. Surgical experience improves the elegance of woven hearts.
Area of Science:
- Traditional Crafts
- Surgical Innovation
- Minimally Invasive Techniques
Background:
- The woven Christmas heart is a significant Danish cultural tradition.
- Surgery increasingly adopts minimally invasive approaches.
- The study explores applying these surgical techniques to traditional crafts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of weaving Christmas hearts using minimally invasive surgical methods.
- To compare the elegance and speed of weaving Christmas hearts via hand, laparoscopic, and robotic approaches.
Main Methods:
- A single-blinded randomized crossover trial.
- Participants wove three Christmas hearts: one by hand, one laparoscopically, and one robotically, within an eight-minute time limit.
- Hearts were visually assessed by a Danish design expert.
Main Results:
- Christmas hearts can be woven using minimally invasive surgical approaches.
- Hand-woven hearts were significantly more elegant and faster to produce than those made laparoscopically or robotically (p < 0.001).
- Experienced surgeons produced more elegant hearts (p = 0.051).
Conclusions:
- Minimally invasive surgical approaches are feasible for weaving Christmas hearts but do not enhance elegance or speed.
- Surgical experience correlates with improved elegance in woven Christmas hearts.
Abstract:
Introduction The woven Christmas heart is a cherished tradition and an iconic symbol of Danish Christmas. The common approach is to weave Christmas hearts by hand, however, as surgery is moving towards a minimally invasive approach, we wished to assess whether Christmas hearts could be weaved in a minimally invasive approach. Methods A single-blinded randomized crossover trial. All participants had to weave three Christmas hearts; one by hand, one laparoscopic, and one by a robotic approach within eight minutes. The hearts were assessed visually by a Danish Christmas expert and designer. Two trained surgeons received additional attempts, with no time limit, at weaving Christmas hearts by a laparoscopic and by a robotic approach. Results The study showed that it was possible to weave Christmas hearts by a minimally invasive approach. However, Christmas hearts woven by hand were significantly more elegant (p less-than 0.001 for both), as well as significantly faster to weave (p less-than 0.001 for both) than hearts woven by a laparoscopic or robotic approach. Furthermore, experienced surgeons tended to weave more elegant Christmas hearts than inexperienced surgeons (p = 0.051). Conclusion Minimally invasive approaches to surgery can be used to weave Christmas hearts, however, these approaches did not lead to more elegant or faster weaving of the Christmas hearts. Furthermore, surgical experience and experience with minimally invasive surgical approaches led to more elegant Christmas hearts. Funding none. Trial registration none.