Objective Assessment of the Core Laparoscopic Skills Course

Sami Mansour,Marcus Reddy,Kumaran Ratnasingham,Nizar Din,Andrew Wan,Shashidhar Irukulla,George Vasilikostas

doi:10.1155/2012/379625

Abstract

Objective. The demand for laparoscopic surgery has led to the core laparoscopic skills course (CLSC) becoming mandatory for trainees in UK. Virtual reality simulation (VR) has a great potential as a training and assessment tool of laparoscopic skills. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the CLSC in developing laparoscopic skills using the VR. Design. Prospective study. Doctors were given teaching to explain how to perform PEG transfer and clipping skills using the VR. They carried out these skills before and after the course. During the course they were trained using the Box Trainer (BT). Certain parameters assessed. Setting. Between 2008 and 2010, doctors attending the CLSC at St Georges Hospital. Participants. All doctors with minimal laparoscopic experience attending the CLSC. Results. Forty eight doctors were included. The time taken for the PEG skill improved by 52%, total left hand and right hand length by 41% and 48%. The total time in the clipping skill improved by 57%. Improvement in clips applied in the marked area was 38% and 45% in maximum vessel stretch. Conclusions. This study demonstrated that CLSC improved some aspects of the laparoscopic surgical skills. It addresses Practice-based Learning and patient care.

Highlights

Introduction and ObjectiveLaparoscopic surgery is technically demanding and requires psychomotor skills different from those needed in open surgery
Skill PEG: Total time to complete task Total left hand length Total right hand length Clipping: Total time to complete task Clips applied in marked area Cut within marked area Maximum vessel stretch Number of misplaced clips
It is ranked between the Basic Surgical Skills (BSS) course and the Advanced Laparoscopic Skills Course (ALSC)

Summary

Introduction

Introduction and ObjectiveLaparoscopic surgery is technically demanding and requires psychomotor skills different from those needed in open surgery. Training in laparoscopic surgery is done in the operating theatre but in the future we have to expect increasing focus on ethics and patient safety This might demand better and more intensive training in a safer environment prior to training in the operating theatre. A wide variety of laparoscopic simulators are available, and they can be broadly classified into videoscopic and computer-driven laparoscopic simulation platforms, which are further divided into virtual reality (VR) and computer-enhanced videoscopic trainers. These trainers primarily differ in their user interface and ability to provide reliable performance measurements. In recent years more realistic VR simulators have been developed for basic and advanced laparoscopic skills training

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Results

Conclusion