[Comparative study of endoscopic 2-D and 3-D imaging systems].

The aim of this comparative study is to gain subjective and objective data to determine for which operative task it is more useful to work with 3-D than 2-D vision systems, in order to show the advantages and disadvantages of 3-D systems. A parcour with five standardized tasks, e.g., sewing and knotting, were built to measure performance times objectively and to count faults. Compared to 2-D vision the performance time was 32% shorter and 43% less faults were made under 3-D vision (p < 0.001). In our endoscopy training centre, surgeons involved in basic and advanced laparoscopy courses were trained to use both 2-D and 3-D vision systems. They subsequently completed analogue scale questionnaires to record a subjective impression of comparative ease of operative tasks under 2-D and 3-D vision, and to identify perceived deficiencies in the 3-D system. In both course, all operative tasks were judged significantly easier under 3-D vision (p < 0.001). It was concluded that users with a normal capability for spatial perception can work faster and safer under 3-D vision, especially for more complicated surgical manoeuvres.