Neuroenhancement of surgeons during robotic suturing.

Journal: Surgical endoscopy
PMID: 34724587

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The initial phases of robotic surgical skills acquisition are associated with poor technical performance, such as low knot-tensile strength (KTS). Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) can improve force and accuracy in motor tasks but research in surgery is limited to open and laparoscopic tasks in students. More recently, robotic surgery has gained traction and is now the most common approach for certain procedures (e.g. prostatectomy). Early-phase robotic suturing performance is dependent on prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation, and this study aimed to determine whether performance can be improved with prefrontal tDCS.

Authors

  • Ronak Patel
    Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Yusuke Suwa
    Department of Surgery, Gastroenterological Center Yokohama City University Medical Center Yokohama Japan.
  • James Kinross
    PanSurg Collaborative, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Alexander von Roon
    Deparment of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK.
  • Adam J Woods
    Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA; Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. Electronic address: ajwoods@phhp.ufl.edu.
  • Ara Darzi
    Imperial College London London UK.
  • Harsimrat Singh
    Deparment of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK.
  • Daniel Richard Leff
    Deparment of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK.

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