Human Factor's in Telemedicine: Training Surgeons by Telementoring

This study aim at evaluating several cases and communication options between a surgeon-mentor and a surgeon-mentoree within a telementoring context. The simulation proved that surgical telementoring was technically feasible with a satellite link simulated at 384 Kb/s, 512 Kb/s, and 768 Kb/s and with a transmission delay of 700 ms. Results show the limitations of image communication and its acceptability for telementoring and point out an important learning process for the mentorce. This seems to indicate a more efficient learning curve than with the standard training techniques (live surgical demonstration by companionship or videoconferencing), or with the use of laparoscopic simulator and surgical robots.