Acquisition and Development of Scrub Nursing Skills in Robotic-Assisted Cranial and Spinal Neurosurgical Procedures

Abstract

Introduction. In high-tech operative specialties, including neurosurgery, the rise of interest in robotic systems is observed, since these techniques are hoped to increase the precision of the operation. However, for the optimal implementation of these solutions, the close cooperation between surgeon and perioperative nursing team as well as adequate coordination of their actions is required. These skills needs to be gained and trained.

Aim. The following report describes the single center experience of the operating team in launching the robotic navigation in neurosurgical procedures from the vantage point of nursing team.

Material and Methods. This work contains a phenomenological analysis of learning process and of optimalisation in cooperating the work of the involved operating team during early phase of introducing the robotic neurosurgical procedures (both cranial and spinal). Here, the typical problems during implementation of these techniques with separate analysis of single steps of preparing and applying the tool sets are described, where critical points and the potential of failure elimination is highlighted.

Results. The preparing of the robotic surgical tool set is not demanding and differs only slightly from the preparation of standard sets designed for neuronavigation plus targeted cranial biopsy or percutaneous spine instrumentation, respectively. The key point is to synchronize the actions of the operating surgeon (-s), perioperative nurses and radiologic technicians.

Conclusions. Implementation of robotic techniques is a challenge for the whole neurosurgical team, including the scrub/circulating nurses. What is more important in the initial phase than (usually intuitive) operation of the devices, is the coordination of single team members’ actions and developing the communication skills regarding the planned course of the surgery and potential modification of its course, needed before the surgery starts. (JNNN 2024;13(1):29–35)