Workflow disruptions in robot-assisted surgery

Abstract

Surgical flow disruptions are unexpected deviations from the natural progression which can potentially compromise the safety of the operation. Separation of the surgeon from the patient and team members is the main contributor for flow disruptions (FDs) in robot-assisted surgery (RAS). FDs have been categorised as communication, coordination, surgeon task considerations, training, equipment/ technology, external factors, instrument changes, and environmental factors. There may be an association between FDs and task error rate. Intervention to counter FDs include training, operating room adjustments, checklists, teamwork, communication improvement, ergonomics, technology, guidelines, workflow optimisation, and team briefing. Future studies should focus on identifying the significant disruptive FDs and the impact of interventions on surgical flow during RAS.