Use of Anti-Skid Material and Patient-Positioning To Prevent Patient Shifting during Robotic-Assisted Gynecologic Procedures

Study Objective: To estimate patient shifting with the current practice of use of an antiskid material and patient positioning during robotic procedures in gynecology. Design: Pilot observational study (Canadian Task Force classification). Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Twenty-two women undergoing robotic-assisted gynecologic procedures. Intervention: Antiskid material (egg-crate pink foam) was placed beneath patients and patient positioning was used during robotic-assisted procedures. Measurements and Main Results: Patient position was marked before and after surgery. Measurements of shift distance before and after surgery were determined for each patient. Median (range) shift distance was 1.3 (0-7.5) cm. There was no significant association between shift in position and either body mass index or duration of the Trendelenburg position. No shoulder neuropathic injuries were observed during the study. Conclusion: Minimal patient shifting is observed with the use of an antiskid material and patient positioning described, without the use of shoulder braces and straps. Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology (2010) 17, 504-507 (c) 2010 AAGL. All rights reserved.