Ergonomics and laparoscopy

Operative laparoscopy has changed the concept of surgery from prolonged painful recuperative periods with long scars of open surgery to short stay, painless, and cosmetically satisfying surgery. This has been achieved at the expense of surgeons′ discomfort and fatigue, thus putting both the surgeon and patient at risk. Inadequate knowledge about ergonomics together with ergonomically deficient design of laparoscopic instruments has been cited as possible causes. This paper reviews the various ergonomic variables and recommendations to make laparoscopic surgery safer.