Standardized digital solution with surgical procedure manager (SPM®)-an opportunity for maximizing patient safety and efficiency in ileostomy reversal?

Background: Standardization and digitalization are getting more and more essential in surgery. Surgical procedure manager (SPM®) is a freestanding computer serving as a digital supporter in the operating room. SPM® navigates step-by-step through surgery by providing a checklist for each individual step.

Methods: This was a single center, retrospective study at the Department for General and Visceral Surgery at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin. Patients who underwent ileostomy reversal without SPM® in the period of January 2017 until December 2017 were compared to patients who were operated with SPM® in the period of June 2018 until July 2020. Explorative analysis and multiple logistic regression were performed.

Results: Overall, 214 patients underwent ileostomy reversal: 95 patients without SPM® vs. 119 patients with SPM®. Ileostomy reversal was performed by head of department/attendings in 34.1%, by fellows in 28.5% and by residents in 37.4%;  = 0.91. Postoperative intraabdominal abscess emerged more often in patients without SPM®: ten (10.5%) patients vs. four (3.4%) patients;  = 0.035. Multiple logistic regression showed a risk reduction for intraabdominal abscess {Odds ratio (OR) 0.19 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.05-0.71];  = 0.014} and for bowel perforation [OR 0.09 (95% CI 0.01-0.93);  = 0.043] in the group with use of SPM® in ileostomy reversal.

Conclusions: SPM® may reduce postoperative complications in ileostomy reversal such as intraabdominal abscess and bowel perforation. SPM® may contribute to patient safety.