A Simplified Simulator For Training and Evaluation of Laparoscopic Skills

Authors:

Institutional Affiliation:

Section of Video-endoscopic Surgery, Division of General Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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Presented in part at the annual meeting of the Society for American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, San Antonio, March 1999.

This study was conducted using the Simulab Corporation SST10 Suture Trainer utilizing Simulab's patented reflected image technology.

Simulab Part Number: SST10; US Patent#5,722,836

Abstract

Background: Laparoscopic skills can be measured objectively in a video-laparoscopic cart simulator system. These scores have been shown to be sufficiently sensitive to distinguish differences in performance between residents at different levels of training. The purpose of this study was to compare a simplified mirrored-box simulator to the video-laparoscopic cart system.

Methods: 22 surgical residents performed seven structured tasks in both simulators in random order. Scores reflected precision and speed. The tasks were transferring, cutting, clip+divide, looping, mesh placement+fixation, suturing with intracorporeal knots.

Results: There were no significant differences in mean raw scores between simulators for six of the seven tasks. Resident total scores correlated well between simulators (r = 0.68, p = 0.001). Resident ranking also correlated well (r = 0.69, p <0.001).

Conclusions: A mirrored-box simulator was shown to provide a reasonable reflection of relative performance of laparoscopic skills.  Practical, effective laparoscopic skills training and evaluation can be accomplished without the need for cumbersome equipment.

Simulab Tower Trainer  Part #  TPT-10

SIMUVIEW Suture Trainer Part #  SST-10