Simulation-based training may improve resident skill in ultrasound-guided biopsy

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine whether simulation-based training can improve resident performance in ultrasound-guided biopsy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Forty radiology residents from a single academic institution enrolled in the study. Each resident performed an initial biopsy on an abdominal imaging phantom using direct ultrasound guidance. Twenty of the residents underwent a 30-minute training session with the phantom device, and 20 residents received no additional training. The residents performed a repeat biopsy of the same lesion and were graded on overall procedure time, number of skin surface punctures, number of gross needle adjustments, and subjective performance as determined by a blinded grader. RESULTS. Residents who participated in the training had a statistically signifcant 92.3-second reduction in procedure time (68% improvement, p = 0.01), 1.1 reduction in number of skin punctures per biopsy (50% improvement, p = 0.05), 2.5 reduction in number of needle adjustments (66% improvement, p = 0.04), and an increase of 0.85 points in score on a 5-point Likert grading scale (23% improvement, p < 0.01). Residents who did not receive any additional training did not improve in any performance metric. CONCLUSION. Simulation-based training improves overall procedure time, number of skin punctures and needle adjustments, and subjective performance.