Training on a Virtual Reality Laparoscopic Simulator Improves Performance of an Unfamiliar Live Laparoscopic Procedure

Purpose: Virtual reality simulators provide a safe and efficient means of acquiring laparoscopic skills. We evaluated whether training on a virtual reality laparoscopic cholecystectomy simulator (Lap Mentor™) improves the performance of a live, unrelated laparoscopic urological procedure. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 medical students with no previous laparoscopic experience were oriented to the Lap Mentor, and then performed virtual reality laparoscopic cholecystectomy which was assessed by 2 experienced laparoscopists using the previously validated Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills scoring. Subjects were randomized to group 1, in which participants completed 6, 30-minute virtual reality training sessions within 3 weeks, or group 2, in which participants received no training. All participants then performed live laparoscopic nephrectomy in a porcine model and performance was evaluated using Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills by 2 experts blinded to training status. Results: Mean total pretraining laparoscopic cholecystectomy Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills scores were comparable between the groups (16.9 ± 4.3 for group 1 vs 15.4 ± 6.2 for group 2, p = 0.4). After training total Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills scores for live porcine laparoscopic nephrectomy were significantly higher in group 1 compared to group 2 (21.0 ± 6.8 vs 15.7 ± 6.6, respectively, p = 0.03). Likewise, individual subcategory Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills scores were higher in group 1 than in group 2, although significant differences were noted only in the categories of instrument handling and knowledge of the procedure. Conclusions: Surgical skills acquired as a result of training on a virtual reality laparoscopic simulator are not procedure specific but improve overall surgical skills, thereby translating into superior performance of an unrelated live laparoscopic urological procedure.