Impact of laparoscopic surgery training laboratory on surgeon's performance

Abstract

Minimally invasive surgery has been replacing the open standard technique in several procedures. Similar or even better postoperative outcomes have been described in laparoscopic or robot-assisted procedures when compared to open surgery. Moreover, minimally invasive surgery has been providing less postoperative pain, shorter hospitalization, and thus a faster return to daily activities. However, the learning curve required to obtain laparoscopic expertise has been a barrier in laparoscopic spreading. Laparoscopic surgery training laboratory has been developed to aid surgeons to overcome the challenging learning curve. It may include tutorials, inanimate model skills training (box models and virtual reality simulators), animal laboratory, and operating room observation. Several different laparoscopic courses are available with specific characteristics and goals. Herein, we aim to describe the activities performed in a dry and animal-model training laboratory and to evaluate the impact of different kinds of laparoscopic surgery training courses on surgeon’s performance. Several tasks are performed in dry and animal laboratory to reproduce a real surgery. A short period of training can improve laparoscopic surgical skills, although most of times it is not enough to confer laparoscopic expertise for participants. Nevertheless, this short period of training is able to increase the laparoscopic practice of surgeons in their communities. Full laparoscopic training in medical residence or fellowship programs is the best way of stimulating laparoscopic dissemination.

Closing the Knowledge Gap in Pelvic Neuroanatomy: Assessment of a Cadaveric Training Program

“…Participants were provided the statements in column 1 prior to starting the course . They were asked to answer on a 5 point scale from strongly agree (1) to strongly disagree (5). Those who answered strongly agree or agree were grouped together.…”

“…As our understanding of functional and surgical pelvic anatomy evolves, there has been a recent trend towards post-graduate laparoscopic training courses and mini-residencies 5 . These courses address training of normal anatomy and also topics such as surgical complications, which cannot be routinely practiced in live patients 6 , hysterectomies, lymph node biopsies 7 , and dissection of neurovascular bundles 8 .…”

“…Participants were provided the statement "This course... improved my surgical skills," and as on for all of the statement in column one. They were asked to answer on a 5 point scale from strongly agree (1) to strongly disagree(5). All scores in column 2 represented as Mean (Standard deviation), N= number of respondents out of 44.…”

Laparoscopic vs. Robotic Approach to Partial Colon Resection

“…There is evidence to suggest that robotic skills will stabilize after a substantial allowance for adaptation through an ample learning curve [10] [11]. The Training group was created to minimize variability in robotic-assisted surgery data that would be eliminated through experience with the technique.…”

Role of laparoscopic simulators in the development and assessment of laparoscopic surgical skills in laparoscopic surgery and gynecology (Review)

“…Torricelli et al (2016), in their review article, suggested that a short period of training with laparoscopic stimulators improves laparoscopic surgical skills. Also, the authors suggest that the best way for the dissemination of laparoscopic surgery is the induction of laparoscopic simulators in the training of residents in surgery (118). Moreover, Papanikolaou et al (2019) suggested that teaching hospitals should introduce training programs using laparoscopic simulators with standardized and reproducible tasks in order to achieve better patient care with safety, efficiency and lower cost (119).…”