Episode # 283 • 21 Jul 2026
Streamlining Surgery: The Future of the OR
What if the next major advance in ENT surgery isn’t a new instrument, but a better-integrated operating room? In this episode of the BackTable ENT & Allergy Podcast, Cleveland Clinic rhinologist and skull base surgeon Dr. Raj Sindwani joins Dr. Gopi Shah and Dr. Ashley Agan to discuss how reducing cognitive load, improving workflows, and creating a more efficient OR environment can enhance the surgical experience.
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Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
03:50 - Where Surgery Happens: Choosing the Right Site for Service
06:27 - Quality Safety And Throughput
09:48 - Reducing Cognitive Load In Surgery
15:34 - Building an Efficient OR Ecosystem And Culture
23:06 - Tech Adoption and Team Training
26:19 - Smarter Surgical Navigation and Augmented Reality
37:02 - Navigation Accuracy, Registration, and Smart Coaching
40:29 - Inside the Stryker RISE Platform
49:55 - Integration Challenges and Voice-Control Safety
56:36 - Surgical Ergonomics and Injury Prevention
01:09:14 - The Future of Surgical Innovation and AI in the OR
Resources
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More about this episode
Dr. Sindwani explores how minimizing unnecessary friction, improving team dynamics, and thoughtfully integrating technology can help surgical teams focus on what matters most: patient care. The conversation examines the operating room as an ecosystem where people, processes, and technology all contribute to patient outcomes. Dr. Sindwani shares strategies for reducing extrinsic cognitive load, including standardizing room setup, minimizing interruptions, and optimizing the surgical environment.
He also discusses advances in sinus and skull base navigation, augmented reality guidance, and Stryker’s RISE platform, highlighting how integrated technology can simplify workflow, improve ergonomics, and reduce distractions in the OR. Throughout the episode, Dr. Sindwani emphasizes the importance of thoughtful technology adoption, team collaboration, and designing the operating room of the future around safety, efficiency, and the needs of both patients and surgeons.
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