Comparative study of 2-D and 3-D vision systems for minimally invasive surgery

The aim of this comparative study was to gain subjective and objective data to determine for which operative tasks it is useful to work with 3-D rather than 2-D vision systems and to show the advantages and disadvantages of 3-D systems. A series of five standardized tasks like sewing and tying knots was set up to measure performance times objectively and to count errors. Compared with 2-D vision, the performance time was 32 % shorter and 43 % fewer errors were made under 3-D vision (P < 0.001). In our endoscopic training centre, surgeons involved in basic and advanced laparoscopic courses trained using both 2-D and 3-D vision systems. They subsequently completed analogue scale questionnaires to record a subjective impression of comparative ease of operation tasks under 2-D and 3-D vision, and to identify perceived deficiencies in the 3-D system. In both courses, all operative tasks were judged significantly easier under 3-D vision (P < 0.001). It was concluded that users with a normal capacity for spatial perception can work faster and safer under 3-D vision, especially for more complicated surgical manoeuvres.