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Factors associated with surgeon’s perception of distraction in the operating room

  • 2019 SAGES Oral
  • Published:
Surgical Endoscopy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Distractions in the operating room (OR) can create stress among surgeons and lead to higher chances of errors and adverse events. The objective is to determine intraoperative factors that are associated with surgeons’ perception of distraction.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study in 265 consecutive patients undergoing elective laparoscopic general surgery during the 2 years after the implementation of a data capture system called the OR Black Box to identify intraoperative sources of distraction. At the end of each operation, human-factor surveys were administered to assess whether surgeons felt distracted. Using a multivariable logistic model, we determined which intraoperative sources of distraction were associated with the surgeons feeling distracted in the OR.

Results

The attending surgeon reported feeling distracted in 120 of 265 operations (45%). Auditory sources of distraction, such as the OR door opening occurred at a median of 41 times per case (interquartile range (IQR), 32–54). Cognitive distractions such as teaching (142 cases (54%)), device malfunction (91 (34%)), irrelevant conversations (72 (27%)), management of the next case (41 (15%)), and time pressure (22 (8%)) occurred in a significant number of operations. In a multivariable analysis, presence of irrelevant conversations (odds ratio 2.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16–3.94, p = 0.015) and patient history of previous abdominal surgery (odds ratio 2.2, 95% CI 1.18–4.1, p = 0.013) were independently associated with increased likelihood of the surgeons feeling distracted.

Conclusions

Irrelevant conversation in the OR is a modifiable factor that was independently associated with surgeon’s perception of distraction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Centre for Surgical Safety, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, 8th Floor East, Toronto, ON, M5B 1T8, Canada

    James J. Jung, Jonah Elfassy & Teodor Grantcharov

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    James J. Jung & Teodor Grantcharov

Authors
  1. James J. Jung
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  2. Jonah Elfassy
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  3. Teodor Grantcharov
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Correspondence to James J. Jung.

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Disclosures

Dr. Jung reports receiving fees as scientific advisor from Surgical Safety Technologies (Toronto, ON). Dr. Grantcharov reports receiving grants from Ethicon Canada, Medtronic Canada, Olympus Canada, Takeda Canada, Baxter Canada, and intellectual property ownership in Surgical Safety Technologies (Toronto, ON). Mr. Elfassy has no conflicts of interest or financial ties to report.

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Jung, J.J., Elfassy, J. & Grantcharov, T. Factors associated with surgeon’s perception of distraction in the operating room. Surg Endosc 34, 3169–3175 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-019-07088-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-019-07088-z

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