Assessing endovascular team performances in a hybrid room using the OR Black Box

This prospective single-center cohort study reports the first use of the OR Black Box® in a hybrid room (HR) setting, focusing on endovascular procedures. The study aimed to assess team performance, technical skills, and radiation safety practices during endovascular repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR) and peripheral vascular interventions (PVI).

The study included 22 procedures (6 EVAR and 16 PVI) and used validated measures and assessment tools to evaluate technical and non-technical skills, radiation safety performance, and environmental distractions.

Key findings included: one EVAR procedure scored below the acceptable threshold for technical performance, while all PVI procedures were rated acceptable; shared decision-making and leadership were highly rated in over half the cases, but surgical communication and nurses' task management were rated low in most cases. Notably, radiation safety behavior was below acceptable levels in 14 out of 22 cases, with team members rarely stepping back from the C-arm during digital subtraction angiography. The study also observed a median of 12 auditory distractions per procedure.

The researchers concluded that the OR Black Box facilitates comprehensive workplace-based assessment of endovascular performance in a hybrid room setting, identifying both strengths and weaknesses in team performance and safety practices. While the technology shows potential for improving vascular surgical practice, the study emphasizes that human input remains crucial in the assessment process.