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Improvement of foot pedals used during surgery based on new ergonomic guidelines

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Abstract

Background: This study aims to create new ergonomic guidelines for the design of foot pedals used during surgery. Methods: Observations in the operating room, a questionnaire among 45 laparoscopic surgeons/residents, an ergonomic literature study, and clog measurements were used to assess the problems occurring during use and to compile new guidelines for foot pedals. Based on these guidelines a new foot pedal was designed and a prototype was manufactured. Results: During the surgical procedure 91% of the subjects occasionally loses contact with the foot pedal, which 56% experience as very annoying. All subjects think that the current foot pedals obstruct their freedom of movement; 75% occasionally hit the wrong switch and 53% experience physical discomfort in their legs and/or feet. Therefore, 93% of the subjects would like to control the diathermy in a different way. The new prototype of a foot pedal was evaluated in a pilot test and proved to be ergonomically better than the currently used foot pedals. Conclusion: The new guidelines for foot pedals result in an ergonomic improvement in their design.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Landbergstraat 15, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands

    M. A. van Veelen, C. J. Snijders, E. van Leeuwen & R. H. M. Goossens

  2. Department of Surgery, Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    G. Kazemier

Authors
  1. M. A. van Veelen
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  2. C. J. Snijders
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  3. E. van Leeuwen
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  4. R. H. M. Goossens
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  5. G. Kazemier
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. A. van Veelen.

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van Veelen, M., Snijders, C., van Leeuwen, E. et al. Improvement of foot pedals used during surgery based on new ergonomic guidelines . Surg Endosc 17, 1086–1091 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-002-9185-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-002-9185-z

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