ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic drastically reduced opportunities for surgical skill sharing between high-income and low to middle-income countries. Augmented reality (AR) technology allows mentors in one country to virtually train a mentee in another country during surgical cases without international travel. We hypothesize that AR technology is an effective live surgical training and mentorship modality. METHODS: Three senior urologic surgeons in the US and UK worked with four urologic surgeon trainees across the continent of Africa using AR systems. Trainers and trainees individually completed post-operative questionnaires evaluating their experience. RESULTS: Trainees rated the quality of virtual training as equivalent to in-person training in 83% of cases (N = 5 of 6 responses). Trainers reported the technology's visual quality as "acceptable" in 67% of cases (N = 12 of 18 responses). The audiovisual capabilities of the technology had a "high" impact in the majority of the cases. CONCLUSION: AR technology can effectively facilitate surgical training when in-person training is limited or unavailable.
ABSTRACT
The unprecedented year 2020 has passed. Under the shadow of the COVID-19 epidemic, the global political, social and economic patterns have changed dramatically. Due to the rapid control of epidemic spread in China, medical system soon returned to normal. Minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery represented by laparoscopy has completely returned to normal level. In view of prevention and control of the epidemic, international communication and transportation have been greatly affected. Many academic conferences have been cancelled or changed to be held online. The epidemic has greatly accelerated the popularization of online transmission of minimally invasive surgery. However, there are some differentiation and differences in disease spectrum, surgical technology, minimally invasive technology, surgical equipment and instruments at home and abroad. In view of this special situation in 2020, this paper reviews and prospects the new hot spots and new developments of minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery in terms of surgical technology platform, surgical technology and concept.Copyright © 2021 Chinese Medical Association
ABSTRACT
The unprecedented year 2020 has passed. Under the shadow of the COVID-19 epidemic, the global political, social and economic patterns have changed dramatically. Due to the rapid control of epidemic spread in China, medical system soon returned to normal. Minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery represented by laparoscopy has completely returned to normal level. In view of prevention and control of the epidemic, international communication and transportation have been greatly affected. Many academic conferences have been cancelled or changed to be held online. The epidemic has greatly accelerated the popularization of online transmission of minimally invasive surgery. However, there are some differentiation and differences in disease spectrum, surgical technology, minimally invasive technology, surgical equipment and instruments at home and abroad. In view of this special situation in 2020, this paper reviews and prospects the new hot spots and new developments of minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery in terms of surgical technology platform, surgical technology and concept.Copyright © 2021 Chinese Medical Association
ABSTRACT
The development and innovation of laparoscopic vision platform has promoted the innovation of surgical concept and technology from laparotomy to minimally invasive surgery. From the initial use of reflector device with candlelight to observe the interior of the human body cavity, to the high-definition and ultra-high-definition laparoscopic vision system, from laparoscopic cholecystectomy, to the popularization and promotion of various laparoscopic surgery for malignant tumor, surgery has undergone great changes due to minimally invasive technology. In the new era, the application of three-dimensional and 4K laparoscope brings a new perspective to minimally invasive surgery, so as to promote the development of surgery in the direction of accurate anatomy and functional protection. In the future, stimulated by concept renovation in post-epidemic era of COVID-19, virtual reality technology and robotic surgery supported by the fifth generation wireless systems, as well as tele-surgery and distance training and teaching based on it, will become a new perspective for the development of minimally invasive surgery.Copyright © 2020 by the Chinese Medical Association.
ABSTRACT
The first foray into gynaecological minimal access surgery took place in 1936, when Swiss gynaecologist Boesch performed the first laparoscopic sterilisation. By 1988 advancements in surgical technology allowed Harry Reich to perform the first laparoscopic hysterectomy, and by 2022 the majority of gynaecological surgery can be carried out laparoscopically. Minimal access surgery reduces hospital stay and enhances post-operative recovery such that patients are often able to return to near normal function within one week. However, advancements in medical management of gynaecological conditions, the European Working Time Directive and the COVID-19 pandemic are just a few examples of how surgical volume has significantly decreased in recent times. The impact that this reduction in case load has had, and will continue to have, on the training of endoscopic surgeons in gynaecology must not be underestimated. It is well documented in the literature that improving training in laparoscopy results in better patient safety, thus it is imperative that we strive for structured minimal access training in gynaecology.
ABSTRACT
In this essay, I summarize a few ideas inspired by my involvement in the "Coronavation" working group, which spanned 2020's COVID-19 crisis. Health-care practitioners, computer scientists, and engineers alike, we strive to meet the challenges associated with practice under threat of pandemic with the same ideals driving the rapid, positive developments in health care today: innovation, collaboration and technology convergence, and acquisition of valuable data that leads to better approaches and new ideas. The ideas sketched here, forged by the need for practical pandemic responses, are rooted in those ideals.