Evaluating minimally invasive surgery training using low-cost mechanical simulations

G. L. Adrales, U. B. Chu, D. B. Witzke, M. B. Donnelly, D. Hoskins, M. J. Mastrangelo, A. Gandsas, A. E. Park

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The goal of this study was to develop, test, and validate the efficacy of inexpensive mechanical minimally invasive surgery (MIS) model simulations for training faculty, residents, and medical students. We sought to demonstrate that trained and experienced MIS surgeon raters could reliably rate the MIS skills acquired during these simulations. Methods: We developed three renewable models that represent difficult or challenging segments of laparoscopic procedures; laparoscopic appendectomy (LA), laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), and laparoscopic inguinal hernia (LH). We videotaped 10 students, 12 surgical residents, and 1 surgeon receiving training on each of the models and again during their posttraining evaluation session. Five MIS surgeons then assessed the evaluation session performance. For each simulation, we asked them to rate overall competence (COM) and four skills: clinical judgment (respect for tissue) (CJ), dexterity (economy of movement) (DEX), serial/simultaneous complexity (SSC), and spatial orientation (SO). We computed intraclass correlation (ICC) coefficients to determine the extent of agreement (i.e., reliability) among ratings. Results: We obtained ICC values of 0.74, 0.84, and 0.81 for COM ratings on LH, LC, and LA, respectively. We also obtained the following ICC values for the same three models: CJ, 0.75, 0.83, and 0.89; DEX, 0.88, 0.86, and 0.89; SSC, 0.82, 0.82, and 0.82; and SO, 0.86, 0.86, and 0.87, respectively. Conclusions: We obtained very high reliability of performance ratings for competence and surgical skills using a mechanical simulator. Typically, faculty evaluations of residents in the operating room are much less reliable. In contrast, when faculty members observe residents in a controlled, standardized environment, their ratings can be very reliable.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)580-585
Number of pages6
JournalSurgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques
Volume17
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Laparoscopy
  • Reliability
  • Simulations
  • Skills
  • Training

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Evaluating minimally invasive surgery training using low-cost mechanical simulations'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this