Voice recognition interfaces (VRI) optimize the utilization of theatre staff and time during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

During laparoscopy, members of staff spend time setting up and de-activating the light source, camera and insufflator. Voice Recognition Interface (VRI) devices, such as HERMES (Stryker Europe, Montreux, Switzerland), enable the surgeon to perform and control these and other functions. They recognize the surgeon's voice and adjust the instruments in response to programmed verbal commands. The aim of this study was to evaluate HERMES with regards to the utilization of time and theatre staff during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A total of 100 patients were randomized to either HERMES-assisted or standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Three time variables were measured for performing three VRI tasks: (1) The initial setting up of the light source and camera, (2) the activation of the insufflator, and (3) the deactivation of the insufflator and light source at the end of the operation. The mean (and standard deviation) of the time in seconds required for setting up the light source and camera was 27.6 (26.9) in non-HERMES operations and 11.7 (4.7) in HERMES-assisted cases (p<0.001). Insufflation time was 19.8 (13.3) vs. 6.7 (2.5) (p<0.001), and switch-off time was 19.5 (11.8) vs. 11.8 (5.7) (p<0.001). HERMES optimized the operating time and the utilization of theatre staff during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.