Micropauses, a 20-second break every 20 minutes, during long surgical procedures, may reduce the risk of surgeon fatigue, according to a study published in the Annals of Surgery.
For the study, researchers tested the effect of micropauses on 16 surgeons, who were tested three times. Each surgeon was tested in a control situation before surgery, twice after a procedure lasting at least two hours with micropauses and without micropauses. Researchers then measured muscular fatigue and discomfort.
They found the average number of errors in procedures lasting at least two hours was 7.7 without micropauses and 1.7 with micropauses. The researchers concluded micropauses could help boost comfort and surgical accuracy.
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For the study, researchers tested the effect of micropauses on 16 surgeons, who were tested three times. Each surgeon was tested in a control situation before surgery, twice after a procedure lasting at least two hours with micropauses and without micropauses. Researchers then measured muscular fatigue and discomfort.
They found the average number of errors in procedures lasting at least two hours was 7.7 without micropauses and 1.7 with micropauses. The researchers concluded micropauses could help boost comfort and surgical accuracy.
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