Abstract
Purpose :
The Alcon Constellation (Fort Worth Texas, USA) is one of the most used vitrectomy machines in the United States. New operating room staff may not be familiar with the Alcon Constellation machine and the steps involved in vitreoretinal surgery. We developed a series of short videos designed to train uniniated scrub technians and circulators in the set up and operation of the Alcon Constellation Unit.
Methods :
Our sample size included 30 surgical technicians. A generalized McNemar’s test was used to compare the pre- test and post- test results. Our module interface was accessed online using a Google Forms link (https://forms.gle/UW6x6FLDFgF9A6G1A). We surveyed our technicians before and after the course to rate their experience on a scale of 1–10 with the Alcon Constellation (1 = not at all confident, 10 = very confident) with a series of questions designed to assess understanding of the constellation and unit and the steps of vitreoretinal surgery. The modules consisted of short videos each focusing on a discrete step of vitreoretinal surgery, including initial set up of the constellation unit, setting up the silicone oil, fluidics, and intraocular gas preparation.
Results :
Our results showed that out of the 30 scrub technicians employed at our hospital system, only 7 have had experience with the Constellation machine. Of those 7, only 4 had worked with the Constellation more than 5 times. Our survey questions showed that our course was helpful for showing basic steps of vitrectomy for beginners, and helpful for those who used the machine in the past to improve their basic knowledge. Notably, our data showed that the module led to an increased confidence level of the scrub technicians when working with the Alcon Constellation from 2.3 to 3.8 with a p-value of less than 0.001
Conclusions :
To conclude, we develop a stepwise approach to help teach the basic steps of vitreoretinal surgery using the Alcon Constellation for scrub technicians and operating room circulators. We provide a resource available for their continuous and future training. The module performed well in the training of uninitiated staff as assessed by survey data. We believe that this module is effective in improving the knowledge and confidence of a surgical team in using the Alcon Constellation vitrectomy machine, and provides a platform for expanded training in vitreoretinal surgery.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.