Dedicated minimally invasive surgery suites increase operating room efficiency

Background: The rapid adoption of laparoscopic surgery since the late 1980s added tremendous complexity into the operating room (OR) environment. For each case, a plethora of additional equipment-including monitors, video equ ipment, wiring, tubing, and cords-had to be set up, prolonging OR turnover time and decreasing OR efficiency. In 1993, the concept of designated minim ally invasive surgery (MIS) suites was introduced. MIS suites integrated mo nitors and video equipment into the OR on ceiling-mounted columns and moved the controls to a centralized nursing station. The overall effect of this innovation on OR efficiency has not been measured. Methods: Five RNs with varying degrees of MIS experience were instructed on video setup and put-away criteria and then timed while performing, a set o f standardized tasks. Each set of tasks was performed twice using a standar dized surgery model. Differences in setup and put-away times between MIS su ites and standard ORs were tested using the t-test for paired comparisons. Results: The mean standard deviation (SD) video setup times were 27.9 +/- 5 .3 see (MIS) and 254.3 +/- 54.0 see (standard); the put-away times were 19. 8 +/- 2.7 see (MIS) and 222.3 +/- 26.0 see (standard). The mean difference standard error (SE) in both the setup (226.4 +/- 16.9 see, p = 0.0001) and put-away times (202.5 +/- 8.6, p = 0.0001) were large and statistically sig nificant. Conclusion: Using a simulation model, we have demonstrated that the use of a MIS suite reduces video setup and put-away time significantly, with the p otential for significant associated cost savings. This provides just one ju stification for the high cost of building such "ORs of the future."