[Introduction of Support for Thoracoscopic Surgery by Clinical Engineers:Task Shift as Scopist by Clinical Engineers]

Kyobu Geka. 2023 Dec;76(13):1092-1096.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

On October 1, 2021, the Clinical Engineer Law was revised and expanded the task of clinical engineers (CEs). After that, they can hold and operate a endoscope in endoscopic surgery. On June 9, 2022, our hospital asked CEs to directly participate in thoracoscopic pleural biopsy as scopist( scope operator) for the first time, and since then, a total of 54 thoracoscopic surgery cases were performed by CEs as scopist over the course of one year. In the CE-supported lung surgery of lobectomy and segmentectomy cases, there was a trend toward an increase in operating time of about 15 minutes, although there was no significant difference in operating time compared with conventional surgery. Other than that, however, there were no particular problems, and we expect that further CE education will provide a favorable surgical environment.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted