A Digital Video Integrated System as a Virtual Learning Tool for Surgery

Abstract

The learning and teaching of medicine is incomplete without the visitation to and familiarization with the activities and events taking place in the operating theatre. Despite its pivotal role in the scheme of training and producing high quality medical personnel who can cater to the overwhelming need of best modern medical practices, the operating theatre of the University College hospital, Ibadan, has largely been a place of time wasting for most medical students who have sessions in the operating theatre. A survey conducted showed 57.9% of the total 19 respondents said there impediment to getting the best from the surgery is based on the inability to visualize what was going on during the surgery; while 15.8% had issues with the lack of explanation by the doctors and clinicians; 11% had difficulty with understanding the steps based on the fact that there is no guide or explanation that could fast track their understanding; 5% said there was not enough sitting arrangements; 5% had issues with not partaking in the scrubbing process and 5% said the surgeries took too long.

To solve this problem a digital technology innovation is needed that would enable anyone not directly involved in the surgery to clearly see what the surgeon is seeing and doing.  This technology should also be able to relay the operating room workflow between personnel to the observing students/trainees. This would provide improved operating room learning experience for students and trainees and reduce infection and safety risk to the patient and operating room personnel. This technology could also provide feedback for the surgeons on reviewing the steps of the operation.