Tele-colleaguography - Adjunct to Intraoperative Time Out for Safe Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Area of Science:

• Surgical Innovation
• Medical Technology
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a prevalent surgical procedure.
• Preventing biliovascular injury is crucial, with intraoperative time-out and cholangiography as current strategies.
• Intraoperative cholangiography faces limitations in low-resource settings due to cost and training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Tele-colleaguography as a viable adjunct to intraoperative time-out for preventing bile duct injuries.
• To explore the application of Tele-colleaguography in resource-limited environments.
• To discuss the potential benefits and technological enablers of remote surgical consultation.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual introduction of Tele-colleaguography, defined as remote consultation via video applications (e.g., WhatsApp, Viber).
• Discussion of its role as an adjunct to intraoperative time-out during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
• Review of supporting literature and consideration of modern technologies like 5G.

Main Results:

• Tele-colleaguography presents a potential solution to mitigate bile duct injuries.
• It offers a feasible alternative in regions where traditional intraoperative cholangiography is not practical.
• Modern technology can support remote surgical collaboration.

Conclusions:

• Tele-colleaguography can enhance safety in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, especially in underserved areas.
• This approach leverages accessible communication tools for expert surgical guidance.
• Further adoption could significantly reduce the incidence of preventable surgical complications.