A comparison of operating room crowding between open and laparoscopic operations

Area of Science:

• Surgical Technology
• Operating Room Management
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• Operating room (O.R.) crowding from equipment and lines is a growing concern, particularly in endoscopic procedures.
• Increased O.R. density may introduce safety hazards and hinder surgical team efficiency.
• A quantitative assessment of O.R. inventory during open and laparoscopic surgery is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively summarize furniture, equipment, cables, and tubes in open and laparoscopic operations.
• To compare the degree of O.R. crowding between open and laparoscopic surgical procedures.
• To identify trends in O.R. inventory that contribute to crowding.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 10 open (OP) and 10 laparoscopic (LAP) general surgical operations.
• Systematic recording of all furniture, equipment, cables, and tubes within the O.R.
• Documentation of cables and tubes in contact with surgical staff.

Main Results:

• Operating room space occupied increased from 36% (OP) to 41% (LAP).
• The median number of cables and tubes rose from 27 (OP) to 34 (LAP).
• Lines touching surgical team members increased from 2 (OP) to 6 (LAP).

Conclusions:

• Laparoscopic surgery is associated with a significant increase in O.R. crowding.
• Current O.R. environments show a trend toward greater clutter during laparoscopic procedures.
• Future O.R. designs require innovation to mitigate clutter and improve safety.