Evaluation of procedural simulation as a training and assessment tool in general surgery

A prospective cohort study evaluated a virtual reality module designed for practicing laparoscopic appendectomy, involving 45 surgeons categorized as novices, intermediates, and experienced based on their procedural experience. Participants underwent one familiarization attempt followed by 20 practice sessions. Results indicated that experienced surgeons performed the procedure with significantly fewer movements and less time than novices during the initial attempt. All groups showed significant improvement over practice sessions, although only a limited number of specific performance parameters differed between novices and intermediates. Notably, novices were at a higher risk for specific errors such as burn damage to the cecum and pressure damage to the appendix.

While the simulator demonstrated potential as a training tool, it requires further refinement for effective assessment. The findings suggest that procedural simulation can provide insights into movement parameters, but future research should aim to enhance the specificity and variability of these metrics to better evaluate surgical competence.