Uncovering Surgeons' Cognitive Overload in Operating Rooms: A Neurological Approach by Researchers at Imperial College London

Researchers at Imperial College London are diving into the intricacies of surgeons' brains in operating rooms in order to uncover indicators of cognitive overload that could put patient safety at risk. Led by Daniel Leff, a senior researcher and consultant breast surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, the team is using a cap equipped with optical probes to monitor brain activity during surgery. During a simulated emergency surgery, trainee surgeon Mary Goble was observed under scrutiny.

Despite appearing composed on the outside, her brain activity revealed the hidden strain of managing multiple stressors simultaneously. According to Leff, doctors often do not show external signs of stress as they have a mindset of coping with whatever comes their way. He believes that framing this research as a means to help doctors improve and ensure patient safety will lead to greater acceptance.

Leff envisions a future where real-time brain activity monitoring could prompt interventions to support surgeons experiencing stress. The study utilizes functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to monitor changes in blood oxygenation, which correlate with neural activity. By analyzing these fNIRS signatures, researchers hope to identify moments of cognitive overload and potentially revolutionize surgical training and patient safety protocols.

Trainee surgeon Mary Goble emphasized the intense stress that surgeons face, even in simulated scenarios, highlighting the importance of coping mechanisms like controlled breathing. While real-time brain activity monitoring during surgery may be a distant possibility, advances in brain-computer-interface technologies offer hope for future applications. Additionally, the team is exploring transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a tool to enhance surgical performance.

Leff acknowledges that this neuro-augmentation approach may be met with skepticism, as it involves sending signals to the brain. In contrast, fNIRS monitoring is seen as harmless and more readily acceptable to people. Overall, the research at Imperial College London aims to improve surgical performance, enhance patient safety, and advance the understanding of cognitive processes during surgery.