Hybrid Operating Room Suites

Key Messages

• This Horizon Scan summarizes information related to hybrid operating room suites for surgical procedures beyond thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, and emergency vascular surgery, including a list of some of the hybrid operating rooms in Canada, a description of some related published studies, and a summary of some important considerations, such as patient and provider experiences and facility planning.
• Hybrid operating rooms combine medical imaging and conventional surgical suites into 1 treatment space and can be used for both minimally invasive and open surgical procedures. They allow surgeons to perform imaging, biopsy, diagnosis, and surgery all in the same room and remove the need to move a patient between an imaging suite and an operating room.
• Evidence suggests that the use of hybrid operating rooms can result in improved patient outcomes and decreased procedure times. Radiation safety for both providers and patients is an important consideration when implementing the use of hybrid operating rooms.
• The use of hybrid operating rooms is well established for thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, and emergency vascular surgery; and is emerging for surgeries such as gynecological, urological, and orthopedic.