gms | German Medical Science

60th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC)
Joint Meeting with the Benelux countries and Bulgaria

German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC)

24 - 27 May 2009, Münster

The experimental-OR project: a platform to develop medical device and building technologies

Meeting Abstract

  • M. Tatagiba - Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
  • U. Matern - Experimental-OP, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
  • M. Moraes - Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
  • A. Gharabaghi - Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
  • G. Feigl - Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. 60. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC), Joint Meeting mit den Benelux-Ländern und Bulgarien. Münster, 24.-27.05.2009. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2009. DocDI.08-01

doi: 10.3205/09dgnc162, urn:nbn:de:0183-09dgnc1626

Published: May 20, 2009

© 2009 Tatagiba et al.
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Outline

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Objective: Good workflow and ergonomic working environment are required in order to work efficiently and without putting either patient or personnel at risk. However, taking a closer look at reality it becomes obvious rather quickly that there are many potential safety hazards in most ORs because devices and machines used do not form a unit. The lack of integrated systems and devices with various different user interfaces based on various user concepts present potential dangers to the patient due to possible user errors. In order to evaluate this situation more objectively a survey study was performed.

Methods: A survey was performed questioning surgeons and OR personnel. Questions ranged from knowledge of how to use devices in an OR to frequency of situations where personnel or a patient were at risk due to operating errors of medical devices in an OR. Furthermore, a statistical analysis of 1330 critical incidences reported to the Federal German Institute for Drugs and Medical Technology (BfArM) between 2000 and 2006 were statistically analyzed.

Results: Analysis of the questionnaires showed that 70% of surgeons and 49% of OR personnel surveyed in this study were not able to correctly use medical technical devices in the OR. Based on statements made by surveyed people these circumstances lead frequently to situations where a patient and also personnel in the OR were put at high potential risk to suffer an injury.

Furthermore, analysis of the BfArM reports showed that in 50% of all reported cases a user error was the cause either due to non-ergonomic design of a device or inadequate training of the user on that specific device. In over 90% of the cases reported to the BfArM the patient was put at risk and 12% of these patients needed a second procedure due to this incidence. In 70% of these cases the OR time was longer than usually required for the same procedure. Due to these findings the Experimental-OR project (EORP) was started at our University Hospital. A 400m² OR unit consisting of two fully equipped ORs with all required auxiliary rooms were constructed. The aim of the EORP is to improve patient and OR personnel safety by integrating medical devices and building technology to form one ergonomically and economically efficient system. The Experimental-OR is an international open platform and testing site aiming to improve existing and design new medical device and building technology without putting a patient at risk.

Conclusions: Based on these findings it becomes obvious that the current situation in many ORs is not satisfactory with respect to patient safety and ergonomics of devices. Furthermore, not only are patients frequently put at risk but also any such incidence has also potential economic consequences for a hospital. Projects such as the EORP are required in order to bring user and industry together to create integrated systems. Ongoing and future studies performed by the EORP will improve this situation in the near future.