Safety and effectiveness of live broadcast of surgical procedures: systematic review

Mina Awad; Manish Chowdhary; Shady Hermena; Sara El Falaha; Naim Slim; Nader K Francis

doi:10.1007/s00464-022-09072-6

Safety and effectiveness of live broadcast of surgical procedures: systematic review

Surg Endosc. 2022 Aug;36(8):5571-5594. doi: 10.1007/s00464-022-09072-6. Epub 2022 May 23.

Authors

Mina Awad¹, Manish Chowdhary¹, Shady Hermena², Sara El Falaha¹, Naim Slim¹, Nader K Francis^{3

4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of General Surgery, Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, BA21 4AT, UK.
² Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, BA21 4AT, UK.
³ Department of General Surgery, Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, BA21 4AT, UK. nader.francis@ydh.nhs.uk.
⁴ Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, Gower St, London, WC1E 6DH, UK. nader.francis@ydh.nhs.uk.
⁵ Directorate of Training, Northwick Park Institute of Medical Research, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, HA1 3UJ, UK. nader.francis@ydh.nhs.uk.

Abstract

Introduction: Live Broadcast of Surgical Procedures (LBSP) has gained popularity in conferences and educational meetings in the past few decades. This is due to rapid advancement in both Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) that enable transmission of the entire operative field and transmission ease and technology to help broadcast the operation to a live audience. The aim of this study was to update the evidence with specific emphasis on the patient safety issues related to LBSP in MIS.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed using Medline, Embase and Pubmed using defined search terms related to LBSP in educational events across all surgical specialities, in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. We also consolidated the prior guidelines and position statements on this topic. Outcomes included reports on the educational value of LBSP as well as patient safety outcomes and ethical issues that were captured by clinical outcomes.

Results: A total 1230 abstracts were identified with 27 papers meeting the inclusion criteria (13 original articles and 14 position statements/guidelines). All studies highlighted the educational benefits of LBSP but without clear measure of these benefits. Clinical outcomes were not compromised in 9 studies but were inferior in the remaining 4, including lower completion rate of endoscopic surgery and higher rate of re-operation. Only nine studies complied with dedicated consent forms for LBSP with no consistent approach of reporting on maintaining patient confidentiality during LBSP. There was a lack of recommendation on standardised approach of reporting on LBSP including the outcomes across the 14 published guidelines and positions statements.

Conclusions: Live Broadcast of Surgical Procedures can be of educational value but patient safety may be compromised. A standardised framework of reporting on LBSP and its outcomes is required from an ethical and patient safety perspective.

Prospero registration: CRD42021256901.

Keywords: Broadcast; Live; Safety; Surgery.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures* / methods
Patient Safety*