Enhancing Fellowship Training Through Scalable Live Surgical Supervision Using Microscope-Integrated Video And Audio Feedback
Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: FP25.08 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/et5g-n032
Authors: Dr David Beckers* 1 , Dr Lena Beckers 1 , Dr Florian Kretz 1
1Precise Vision Ophthalmologists,Rheine,Germany
Purpose
A novel educational supervision model was implemented to allow senior surgeons to remotely supervise multiple ophthalmology fellows in real time during surgery.
Setting
A live video feed from the operating microscope was transmitted within a secure hospital network and accessed remotely via encrypted VPN, ensuring patient data protection and compliance with institutional data security requirements. Senior surgeons were able to observe ongoing procedures continuously while supervising more than one operating fellow simultaneously.
Methods
Fellows wore a single-ear headset, enabling real-time advisory feedback without disrupting operative workflow or communication within the operating theatre. This setup allowed immediate guidance and correction while preserving surgical autonomy and concentration. Educational outcomes focused on supervisor intervention rates, frequency of complete surgical takeovers, and qualitative assessment of learning curve progression.
Results
Use of the system was associated with fewer hands-on interventions and a reduced need for senior surgeon takeovers. Fellows were able to adapt intraoperative strategies in real time in response to verbal guidance, resulting in smoother case progression and improved decision-making over time. From a supervisory perspective, the system enabled efficient oversight of multiple trainees without compromising situational awareness or patient safety.
Conclusions
This secure, scalable live supervision model represents a practical teaching innovation aligned with competency-based surgical education. It optimizes faculty resources while supporting trainee autonomy and maintaining high standards of surgical safety, making it particularly suitable for high-volume training environments.