Outcomes of a virtual‐reality simulator‐training programme on basic surgical skills in robot‐assisted laparoscopic surgery

• Published in: The international journal of medical robotics + computer assisted surgery Vol. 13; no. 2
• Main Authors: Phé, Véronique, Cattarino, Susanna, Parra, Jérôme, Bitker, Marc‐Olivier, Ambrogi, Vanina, Vaessen, Christophe, Rouprêt, Morgan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.06.2017
• Subjects: Adult; BASIC (programming language); Clinical Competence - statistics & numerical data; Computer Simulation; Computer-Assisted Instruction - methods; Computer-Assisted Instruction - statistics & numerical data; Educational Measurement - statistics & numerical data; Female; Flight simulation; France; High Fidelity Simulation Training - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Laparoscopy - education; Laparoscopy - statistics & numerical data; learning‐curve; Male; Medical students; medical subject headings (MeSH): robotic; Middle Aged; Physicians; Robotic surgery; Robotic Surgical Procedures - education; Robotic Surgical Procedures - statistics & numerical data; Robotics; Simulation; Skills; Students; Surgeons; Surgery; Training; Virtual Reality; Young Adult; learning-curve; simulation; medical subject headings (MeSH): robotic; surgery
• ISSN: 1478-5951; 1478-596X; 1478-596X
• DOI: 10.1002/rcs.1740

Background The utility of the virtual‐reality robotic simulator in training programmes has not been clearly evaluated. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of a virtual‐reality robotic simulator‐training programme on basic surgical skills. Methods A simulator‐training programme in robotic surgery, using the da Vinci Skills Simulator, was evaluated in a population including junior and seasoned surgeons, and non‐physicians. Their performances on robotic dots and suturing‐skin pod platforms before and after virtual‐simulation training were rated anonymously by surgeons experienced in robotics. Results 39 participants were enrolled: 14 medical students and residents in surgery, 14 seasoned surgeons, 11 non‐physicians. Junior and seasoned surgeons’ performances on platforms were not significantly improved after virtual‐reality robotic simulation in any of the skill domains, in contrast to non‐physicians. Conclusions The benefits of virtual‐reality simulator training on several tasks to basic skills in robotic surgery were not obvious among surgeons in our initial and early experience with the simulator. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.