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Laparoscopic and robotic skills are transferable in a simulation setting: a randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

Background

Although surgical simulation provides an effective supplement to traditional training, it is not known whether skills are transferable between minimally invasive surgical modalities. The purpose of this study was to assess the transferability of skills between minimally invasive surgical simulation platforms among simulation-naïve participants.

Methods

Forty simulation-naïve medical students were enrolled in this randomized single-blinded controlled trial. Participants completed a baseline evaluation on laparoscopic (Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery Program, Los Angeles, CA) and robotic (dV-Trainer, Mimic, Seattle, WA) simulation peg transfer tasks. Participants were then randomized to perform a practice session on either the robotic (N = 20) or laparoscopic (N = 20) simulator. Two blinded, expert minimally invasive surgeons evaluated participants before and after training using a modified previously validated subjective global rating scale. Objective measures including time to task completion and Mimic dV-Trainer motion metrics were also recorded.

Results

At baseline, there were no significant differences between the training groups as measured by objective and subjective measures for either simulation task. After training, participants randomized to the laparoscopic practice group completed the laparoscopic task faster (p < 0.003) and with higher global rating scale scores (p < 0.001) than the robotic group. Robotic-trained participants performed the robotic task faster (p < 0.001), with improved economy of motion (p < 0.001), and with higher global rating scale scores (p = 0.006) than the laparoscopic group. The robotic practice group also demonstrated significantly improved performance on the laparoscopic task (p = 0.02). Laparoscopic-trained participants also improved their robotic performance (p = 0.02), though the robotic group had a higher percent improvement on the robotic task (p = 0.037).

Conclusions

Skills acquired through practice on either laparoscopic or robotic simulation platforms appear to be transferable between modalities. However, participants demonstrate superior skill in the modality in which they specifically train.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Lauren Thomaier

  2. Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 301 Mason Lord Drive, Suite 3200, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA

    Megan Orlando, Melinda Abernethy, Chandhana Paka & Chi Chiung Grace Chen

Authors
  1. Lauren Thomaier
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  2. Megan Orlando
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  3. Melinda Abernethy
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  4. Chandhana Paka
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  5. Chi Chiung Grace Chen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lauren Thomaier.

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Disclosures

An educational loan of the Mimic dV-trainer was provided by Mimic Simulation to complete the study. Drs. Thomaier, Orlando, Abernethy, Paka, and Chen have no other financial disclosures or conflicts of interest.

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Thomaier, L., Orlando, M., Abernethy, M. et al. Laparoscopic and robotic skills are transferable in a simulation setting: a randomized controlled trial. Surg Endosc 31, 3279–3285 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-016-5359-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-016-5359-y

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