The LapSim Virtual Reality Simulator: Promising but Not Yet Proven

Overview

Journal Surg Endosc

Publisher Springer

Specialties Gastroenterology
General Surgery
Radiology

Date 2010 Jul 9

PMID 20614142

Citations 15

Authors

Katherine Fairhurst

Andrew Strickland

Guy Maddern

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The acquisition of technical skills using surgical simulators is an area of active research and rapidly evolving technology. The LapSim is a virtual reality simulator that currently allows practice of basic laparoscopic skills and some procedures. To date, no reviews have been published with reference to a single virtual reality simulator.

Methods: A PubMed search was performed using the keyword "LapSim," with further papers identified from the citations of original search articles.

Results: Use of the LapSim to develop surgical skills has yielded overall results, although inconsistencies exist. Data regarding the transferability of learned skills to the operative environment are encouraging as is the validation work, particularly the use of a combination of measured parameters to produce an overall comparative performance score.

Conclusion: Although the LapSim currently does not have any proven significant advantages over video trainers in terms of basic skills instruction and although the results of validation studies are variable, the potential for such technology to have a huge impact on surgical training is apparent. Work to determine standardized learning curves and proficiency criteria for different levels of trainees is incomplete. Moreover, defining which performance parameters measured by the LapSim accurately determine laparoscopic skill is complex. Further technological advances will undoubtedly improve the efficacy of the LapSim, and the results of large multicenter trials are anticipated.

Citing Articles

Exploring the Impact of Hand Dominance on Laparoscopic Surgical Skills Development Using Network Models.

Malisetty S, Rastegari E, Siu K, Ali H J Clin Med. 2024; 13(4).

PMID: 38398463 PMC: 10889549. DOI: 10.3390/jcm13041150.

Training and assessment using the LapSim laparoscopic simulator: a scoping review of validity evidence.

Toale C, Morris M, Kavanagh D Surg Endosc. 2022; 37(3):1658-1671.

PMID: 36123545 DOI: 10.1007/s00464-022-09593-0.

Evaluation of Laparoscopy Virtual Reality Training on the Improvement of Trainees' Surgical Skills.

Elessawy M, Mabrouk M, Heilmann T, Weigel M, Zidan M, Abu-Sheasha G Medicina (Kaunas). 2021; 57(2).

PMID: 33540817 PMC: 7913105. DOI: 10.3390/medicina57020130.

Application of multidirectional stitching technology in a laparoscopic suturing instructional program: a randomized controlled trial.

Zhao Y, Chen Q, Hu J, Shen Q, Xia L, Yan L BMC Med Educ. 2020; 20(1):248.

PMID: 32753043 PMC: 7409432. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-020-02146-w.

Achieving Interface and Environment Fidelity in the Virtual Basic Laparoscopic Surgical Trainer.

Chellali A, Mentis H, Miller A, Ahn W, Arikatla V, Sankaranarayanan G Int J Hum Comput Stud. 2018; 96:22-37.

PMID: 30393449 PMC: 6214218. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2016.07.005.

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