Attempted establishment of proficiency levels for laparoscopic performance on a national scale using simulation: The results from the 2004 SAGES Minimally Invasive Surgical Trainer-Virtual Reality (MIST-VR) learning center study

K. R. Van Sickle, E. M. Ritter, D. A. McClusky, A. Lederman, M. Baghai, A. G. Gallagher, C. D. Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The Minimally Invasive Surgical Trainer-Virtual Reality (MIST-VR) has been well validated as a training device for laparoscopic skills. It has been demonstrated that training to a level of proficiency on the simulator significantly improves operating room performance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The purpose of this project was to obtain a national standard of proficiency using the MIST-VR based on the performance of experienced laparoscopic surgeons. Methods: Surgeons attending the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) 2004 Annual Scientific Meeting who had performed more than 100 laparoscopic procedures volunteered to participate. All the subjects completed a demographic questionnaire assessing laparoscopic and MIST-VR experience in the learning center of the SAGES 2004 meeting. Each subject performed two consecutive trials of the MIST-VR Core Skills 1 program at the medium setting. Each trial involved six basic tasks of increasing difficulty: acquire place (AP), transfer place (TP), traversal (TV), withdrawal insert (WI), diathermy task (DT), and manipulate diathermy (MD). Trial 1 was considered a "warm-up," and trial 2 functioned as the test trial proper. Subject performance was scored for time, errors, and economy of instrument movement for each task, and a cumulative total score was calculated. Results: Trial 2 data are expressed as mean time in seconds in Table 2. Conclusion: Proficiency levels for laparoscopic skills have now been established on a national scale by experienced laparoscopic surgeons using the MIST-VR simulator. Residency programs, training centers, and practicing surgeons can now use these data as guidelines for performance criterion during MIST-VR skills training.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5-10
Number of pages6
JournalSurgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques
Volume21
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2007

Keywords

  • Laparoscopic skills
  • Proficiency levels
  • Simulation
  • Validation
  • Virtual reality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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