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Abstract
Introduction Live surgical broadcasts (LSBs) have a rich history as an educational tool, but are not without patient safety concerns. In response, ‘as-live’ surgical broadcasts (ALSBs) have emerged as an alternative. This scoping review aims to map out the literature surrounding live surgery.
Methods A systematic search of PubMEd, MEDLINE and Ovid Embase was performed. Primary studies describing outcomes of live surgical interventions, surveys of audience members, and surveys of surgeons were included. Studies were classified into four categories: effects on patients, the impact on surgeons, the impact on the audience, and alternatives to live surgery. There was notable overlap between categories.
Results 36 articles were included for analysis. 18 studies investigated patient outcomes after live surgery, 10 surveys assessed the impact on patients, and 8 surveys assessed the impact of performing live surgery on surgeons. 16 studies assessed the impact of live surgery on the audience.
Conclusion The available literature would suggest live surgery is safe for patients. The majority of studies indicated comparable complication rates to routine procedures. However, ethical concerns and perceptions of patient risk among both surgeons and audience members were mixed. The educational value of live surgery was emphasised, but opinions on the future of live surgery differ, including preferences for live over as-live surgery and a potential shift towards simulation technology.
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