Technological Advancements in the OR: Do We Need to Redefine Intraoperative Nursing Roles?

Abstract

Surgical advancements in the OR have been driven by and centered around technological innovation, particularly since the 1980s. The emergence of digital medical imaging and computer-integrated surgery, commonly termed robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), has revolutionized health care. The concept of RAS was first proposed in the 1970s by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and was based on the provision of active surgeon telepresence for astronauts. It soon became evident that the ability to control RAS in space was challenging because of time delays created by vast distances. However, the idea was adopted by the US military, which backed the development of robotic technology as a means to provide remote tertiary health care for frontline soldiers and personnel. The first recorded successful RAS procedure was a computed tomography–guided brain biopsy performed in 1985 in California. Since then, robotic technology has advanced significantly from computer-aided adjustable arms for supporting laparoscopic cameras to computer-integrated operating units.