Teaching the Retropubic Midurethral Sling Using a Novel Cadaver and Model-Based Approach

Abstract

ObjectiveTo measure the impact of a model-based teaching program on resident comfort and skill with retropubic midurethral sling (MUS).Study designResidents were assessed before and after a retropubic MUS teaching session, which included a brief lecture and three interactive teaching stations (cadaver pelvis, retropubic MUS pelvic model, cystoscopy model). Self-assessment measures included MUS-related visual analog scale (VAS), Likert, and open-ended questions. Objective assessment measures were used to score blinded videos of trocar passage on a pelvic model, including a modified objective structured assessment of technical skills (mOSAT) and a retropubic MUS-specific checklist of surgical steps. Emerging themes from the open-ended questions were identified using grounded theory; analysis ceased once theme saturation was achieved.ResultsTwenty-five of 37 total residents participated in the training session and 24 participated in this study. Following training, VAS scores, Likert scores, and qualitative analysis indicated greater resident comfort with performing retropubic MUS, with relevant anatomy, and with trocar passage. Residents demonstrated improvement in model trocar passage post-training, with a rise in mOSAT score (47% to 65%; p = .01) and a rise in checklist score (61% to 75%; p = .11). Residents expressed discomfort due to inexperience with MUS, concern regarding trocar passage, and worry over potential complications. Residents reported feeling more prepared to perform MUS after the session. They stressed the importance of repetition and a comfortable learning environment for surgical training, and praised the “hands-on” training session.ConclusionWe demonstrate success using a short, single-session, hands-on group training session to improve comfort and skill with retropubic MUS.

Simulation Training in Penile Implant Surgery: Assessment of Surgical Confidence and Knowledge With Cadaveric Laboratory Training

“…Simulation surgical training has proven to be a valid and an increasingly popular method to teach surgical skills and enhance resident performance in the operating room 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Traditional educational methods (reading, surgical videos, didactive activities, etc.)…”

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Functional urology: Practice patterns and training aspirations among urologists in Brazil

“…Surgical simulation models and cadaveric laboratories have been increasingly used for medical training 3 . A study evaluated residents' performance before and after a MUS teaching session that included interactive teaching stations (cadaver pelvis, retropubic MUS pelvic model, and cystoscopy model) 19 . Residents felt more prepared to perform MUS after the educational intervention with the “hands‐on” training session.…”

A novel human cadaver model to investigate a retrourethral transobturator male sling procedure

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