Objective To understand the psychological pressure when the surgeon-in-chief remotely completes animal surgery using home-made Tumai surgical robot in combination with 5G network (Abbreviated as“remote robotic surgery” ), and investigate and analyze the sources of psychological pressure, and then provide evidence guidance for the training of surgeon in performing remote robotic surgery. Methods A modified perceptual stress scale was used to conduct a questionnaire survey. The 44 surgeons-in-chief with robot operation qualification from 10 medical units in the Gansu Province recruited by Gansu Provincial People’s Hospital were as observation subject, who participated in the psychological stress validation test of remote robotic surgery, from September 4, 2022 to October 10, 2022. The difference of psychological stress before and after the test was compared. The stressor of surgeon-in-chief was analyzed by Likert scale. The animals in this study were swines. Results A total of 132 valid questionnaires were obtained from 44 surgeons-in-chief. The surgical physician’s perceived stress score after the test was statistically higher than before the test [(47.50±9.06) points vs. (38.34±5.55) points, mean difference and its 95% confidence interval=9.61 (7.00, 12.27), t=7.42, P<0.001]. The analysis results of multiple linear regression showed that the number of robotic surgery performed by the surgeon-in-chief in the past had a negative impact on the psychological pressure of the surgeon-in-chief after the test (β=–0.292, P=0.042); At the same time, the subjective perception data of the surgeon-in-chief, such as unstability of signal transmission and unskilled equipment manipulation by the surgeon had positive impacts on the psychological pressure of the surgeon-in-chief after the test (β=1.987, P=0.026; β=3.184, P=0.010), and the tacit understanding between the surgeon-in-chief and the first assistant had a negative impact on the psychological pressure of the surgeon-in-chief after the test (β=–2.185, P=0.047). Conclusions According to the data from this study, remote robotic surgery will increase the psychological pressure of the surgeon-in-chief. Previous experience in robotic surgery can reduce psychological stress after surgery. The main sources of psychological pressure are unstability of signal transmission, unskilled equipment manipulation by the surgeon, and the tacit understanding between the surgeon-in-chief and the first assistant.

Citation： GUO Jin, SU He, MA Yuntao. Investigation and analysis on psychological pressure of surgeon-in-chief to complete animal remote surgery using home-made Tumai surgical robot in combination with 5G network. CHINESE JOURNAL OF BASES AND CLINICS IN GENERAL SURGERY, 2023, 30(10): 1205-1209. doi: 10.7507/1007-9424.202305062 Copy