Mapping Distractions in the Hybrid Operating Room During Elective Endovascular Aortic Procedures.

Area of Science:

• Medical technology
• Surgical safety
• Healthcare quality improvement

Background:

• Hybrid operating rooms (ORs) present complex auditory and visual stimuli.
• These stimuli may impact surgical team performance and patient outcomes.
• Quantifying distractions in hybrid ORs is crucial for understanding their effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify distractions during elective endovascular aortic procedures in a hybrid OR.
• To analyze the frequency and types of distractions encountered.
• To investigate potential associations between distractions and surgical factors.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, observational, single-center study.
• Utilized audiovisual data from a medical data recorder (OR Black Box).
• Characterized distractions using a modified Disruptions in Surgery Index.

Main Results:

• Analyzed 22 endovascular procedures with high interrater and intrarater reliability.
• Observed a median rate of 81 distractions per hour.
• Internal traffic was the most frequent distraction; closing phase had significantly more distractions.

Conclusions:

• Distractions are prevalent in hybrid ORs and can be effectively mapped.
• Further research is necessary to determine the clinical impact of these distractions.
• Quality improvement initiatives to reduce surgical distractions should be explored.