Gender differences in using a 3D-vision system regarding surgical performance in laparoscopy

Background Different display techniques have shown growing importance to laparoscopic surgical performance. The advantage of using a 3D-techniqu with optimized spatial orientation, compared to high resolution 2D-4K-vision system, could previously be shown. Since women make up an increasing amount of medicine students and surgeons, this study was designed to investigate whether one gender has a greater benefit from using a 3D- compared to a 4K-display system.

Methods In a randomized cross-over trial the surgical performance of male and female medical students (MS), non-board certified surgeons (NBCS) and board certified surgeons (BCS) was compared using 3D- vs. 4K-display technique at a minimally invasive training parkour.

Results 128 participants (56 women and 72 men) were included in final data analysis. Overall parcours time in seconds was 3D vs. 4K for all women (770.7 ± 31.9 vs. 1068.1 ± 50.0, p< 0.001) and all men (664.5 ± 19.9 vs. 889.7 ± 31.2, p< 0.001). This result is transferable to nearly every task and every level of experience. Regarding overall mistakes participants tend to commit less mistakes while using the 3D-vision system, showing 3D vs. 4K for all women (10.2 ± 1.1 vs. 13.3 ± 1.3, p=0.005) and all men (9.6 ± 0.7 vs. 12.2 ± 1.0, p=0.001). The benefit of using a 3D-system, measured by the difference in seconds, was for women 297.3 ± 41.8 (27,84 %) vs. 225.2 ± 23.3 (25,31 %) for men (p=0.005). This can be confirmed in the MS group (327.6 ± 65.5 vs. 249.8 ± 33.7, p=0.041) and in the NBCS group (359 ± 52.4 vs. 198.2 ± 54,2, p=0.003). There was no significant difference in the BCS group. Comparing gender, overall parcours time for men was 776.9 ± 27.0 vs 920.0 ± 31.4 (p< 0.001) for women. Differences in mistake rate between men and women didn’t reach significance.

Conclusion 3D laparoscopic display technique optimizes surgical performance compared to the 2D-4K technique for both men and women. The benefit of the 3D technique is most pronounced in surgical unexperienced women

Publication History

Article published online:
07 September 2021