Today, we’re testing the classic, family-favorite board game Operation™ — but we’re doing it in the OR… with a robot! We’ll see if my 12-year-old son — using a super surgical robot — is better at Operation™ than a master surgeon!
Don’t have time to read this post? Watch the video here instead!
Doctor Rich:
I’m here with my special guest, my son…
Colton:
Dr. Colton! And I’m gonna beat my dad at Operation™!
Doctor Rich:
Everybody knows and loves the game of Operation™, but it takes quite a long time to become a surgical specialist. It’s a very complicated field and between medical school, residency, and fellowship can take 30 to 40,000 hours.
The surgical robot is the pinnacle of surgical technology, and many surgeons prefer to use this — as it improves the dexterity that the surgeon has and improves optics and visualization. We’ll see if this is translatable to the game of Operation™! If you haven’t seen our “3,000 surgeries” video, check that out here.
So Colton — what is your experience with robotic surgery?
Colton:
I spent 15 minutes!
[rap music begins playing and animated “The Thug Life” meme glasses and hat appear on Colton]
Doctor Rich [laughing]:
Fifteen minutes! Okay, fifteen minutes… right now!
Colton:
So it’s either someone who has no surgery experience, basically — to someone who has THREE THOUSAND surgeries done successfully!
Doctor Rich:
What is your experience with video games?
Colton:
Very good. I have over a thousand hours of training on that!
Doctor Rich [laughing]:
I hope that we can make this into a career for you. Before we get started, I think there’s something we’re forgetting…
Colton:
To like and subscribe! Yeah!
[sped-up video of the setup to adapt the surgical robot to the board game]
[Using the robot, Dr. Colton buzzes attempting the rubber band but removes it successfully on the second try. He skillfully removes the wrench from the “Wrenched Ankle” on the first try]
Doctor Rich:
Wow!
Colton:
That was harder than I thought it was gonna be… Daddy — even you’re gonna have a hard time!
[Dr. Colton easily removes the “Water on the Knee” bucket]
Both cheering:
Yeah!
[Colton then tries the “Charlie Horse” and buzzes nine times but succeeds on the tenth attempt — heavenly music begins playing and the video has an angelic glow. He then easily removes the “Butterflies in the Stomach” but buzzes on the “Bread Basket”]
Doctor Rich:
This is unexpectedly hard!
[Colton buzzes three more times on the bread but removes it on the fourth. He moves to the “Spare Ribs,” but buzzes just as he’s about to take it out]
Doctor Rich:
Oh my God! That was a cheap shot!
Colton:
Yeah… He’s dead.
[He removes the ribs and tries the “Funny Bone” — but buzzes twice before succeeding. Next is the “Wishbone” — which he gets on the third try and places under “Cavity Sam’’s” red bulb nose]
Yeah! I did it!
Doctor Rich [laughing]:
He’s growing a wishbone mustache?
[Colton removes the Adam’s apple and places it on the “patient’s” mouth]
Oh! You got that one! That is a little cannibalistic though… If you’re giving him his own Adam’s apple…
[Colton removes the “Broken Heart” — but buzzes]
Doctor Rich:
Alright, you buzzed!
Colton:
I got it though…
[Colton removes the “Brain Freeze” and tries the “Writer’s Cramp” pencil — succeeding on the fifth try]
Doctor Rich:
Wow! That’s good!
[Colton ends the robot round having buzzed on eight pieces. Doctor Rich begins his turn by hand — and breezes through with buzzes on only two pieces. On the surgery-by-hand round, Colton ends with five buzzes.]
[Battle-competition music begins to play, and Doctor Rich begins the robotic surgery round — only buzzing on the “Writer’s Cramp” pencil! Video cuts to a still-shot of Doctor Rich giving a thumbs up by the surgical robot]
Final Score
| Dr. Colton (with Robot) | Dr. Rich (with Robot) | Dr. Colton (by hand) | Dr. Rich (by hand) |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
Doctor Rich:
So special thanks to my son Colton for playing this silly game with me! So Colton — what were the chances that you wanted to be a robotic surgeon BEFORE you got to sit on the [robotic surgery] console?
Colton
10%.
Doctor Rich:
10%?! What is it now?
Colton:
Five.
Doctor Rich [laughing]:
Oh God!
Colton:
It’s harder than I thought it was gonna be!
Doctor Rich:
Proving the adage that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks… But he CAN kick his son’s butt with a robot!
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