Trial reportSurgical endoscopy2026
Visual, physical, and mental strain during simulated robotic surgical tasks on Hugo™ RAS and impact of microbreaks on them: a randomized controlled trial.
Trial report in Surgical endoscopy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe use of robotic surgical consoles predisposes surgeons to visual, physical, and mental strain. While microbreaks are beneficial in laparoscopic surgery, their role in open-console robotic systems, remains unclear.
methodsThirty-six surgical residents performed standardized simulated tasks on the Hugo™ RAS system. They were randomized to either an intervention group receiving a 5-min guided microbreak after 45 min of activity or a control group working continuously. Visual strain was assessed using visual fatigue questionnaire and objectively by near point of accommodation [NPA], near point of convergence [NPC], stereoacuity, visual acuity. Additionally tear film quality was assessed by Schirmer's test and tear break-up time [TBUT]. Physical strain was evaluated using the Body Part Discomfort scale and the SURG-TLX Physical domain, mental strain was assessed using heart rate variability and the SURG-TLX Mental domain. Measurements were obtained at baseline and post-task.
resultsRobotic task performance resulted in significant worsening of pressure around the eyes, dryness, eye fatigue, heaviness of eyelids, blurred near and far vision, NPA, NPC, stereoacuity, Schirmer's test, and TBUT. Musculoskeletal discomfort significantly increased in the neck, shoulders, hands/wrists, and back. Microbreaks provided limited symptomatic benefit for select visual symptoms- eye dryness [p = 0.022] and eye irritation [p = 0.022]-but did not significantly influence objective ocular measures, musculoskeletal or mental strain outcomes.
conclusionSimulated robotic surgery on the Hugo™ RAS system induces substantial visual and physical strain. Although microbreaks modestly alleviate select eye symptoms, their overall ergonomic benefit seems limited. Further research is needed to develop effective strategies to protect surgeon visual and musculoskeletal health during robotic surgery.
Indexed as
Identifiers
42545523What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.