Virtual reality surgical simulation for lower urinary tract endourologic surgery.

Abstract

Computer-based simulations for clinical training have been utilized for medical education for over 25 years, with progression of technological advances from mainframe computers to the multimedia-based systems in current use.5 Simulation becomes attractive whenever actual physical experience is associated with unacceptable risk or expense or the experience is not practical because of distance or temporal constraints. The classic example of the value of simulation in such circumstances is flight simulation aviation training, which was first introduced during the Second World War to reduce the high casualty rate among the relatively inexperienced pilots recruited for aerial warfare. Though its development has occurred over 40 years, flight simulation in a virtual environment has only recently evolved sufficiently to be considered indispensable for training, due to the savings and benefits in time, expense, equipment, and safety it offers.