Abstract
Background: Traditionally, the acquisition of surgical skill has occurred entirely in the operating room. To meet the expanding challenges of cost containment and patient safety, novel methods of surgical training utilizing ex-vivo workstations are being developed. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the impact of a laparoscopic training curriculum on surgical residents' operative performance. Methods: Twenty-one surgery residents completed baseline laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repairs. Operative performance was evaluated using a validated global assessment tool. Each resident was then randomized to a control group or a trained group. A CD ROM, video, and simulator were used for training. At the end of the study, each resident's operative performance was again evaluated. Results: Improvement was significantly greater in the trained group in five of the eight individual global assessment areas as well as the composite score (P <0.05). Questionnaire data suggested that training resulted in improved understanding of the TEP hernia repair (P = 0.01) and an increased willingness to offer the operation to patients with nonrecurrent unilateral hernias (P = 0.02). Conclusions: A multimodality laparoscopic TEP hernia curriculum improves residents' knowledge of the TEP hernia repair and comfort in performing the procedure, and may also improve actual operative performance.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 725-728 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | American journal of surgery |
Volume | 182 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2001 |
Keywords
- Global assessment
- Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal hernia repair
- Simulation
- Skills training
- Surgical education
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery