Current state of ergonomics of operating rooms of Dutch hospitals in the endoscopic era

Laparoscopic procedures are mostly performed in operating rooms which have been designed for conventional surgery. The ergonomic layout of these operating rooms is not suited for endoscopic surgery. This study reports on the current state of ergonomics of Dutch operating rooms for laparoscopic surgery. Number of trolleys, presence of ceiling-mounted booms, and number, positioning and size of monitors were recorded. The floor surface of operating rooms and lowest and highest positions of operating tables were documented. Positioning of the surgical team and monitors during laparoscopic surgery were assessed. Twenty-nine hospitals participated in this study. The average number of trolleys per hospital was 2.4. The mean height of the center of the monitors was 163 cm. Average floor surface of operating rooms was 37.45 m2. Only one of the 29 hospitals had a ceiling-mounted boom. The height of operating tables varied between 725 and 1215 mm. The floor space of current operating rooms is too small to allow use of space occupying technological systems. Less than 4% of operating rooms are equipped with permanent monitors mounted on booms. Operating tables cannot be lowered to a position which allows an ergonomic posture of the surgical team.

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