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Maintenance training for laparoscopic suturing: the quest for the perfect timing and training model: a randomized trial

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Abstract

Background

Although excellent training programs exist for acquiring the challenging skill required in laparoscopic suturing, without subsequent reinforcement, performance is prone to decay. Therefore, maintenance training is proposed to ensure better skill retention. This study aimed to elucidate the ideal timing and frequency of maintenance training as well as the best model to be used for this training.

Methods

After completing a proficiency-based laparoscopic suturing training, 39 medical students attended different maintenance programs represented by four groups: a control group without additional training (group 1), a massed training group with one supervised training session (150 min) after 2.5 months (group 2), and two distributed training groups with five monthly unsupervised training sessions of 30 min on a box trainer (group 3) or the LapMentor® (group 4). Retention testing, after 5 months, included suturing on a box trainer and on a cadaver porcine Nissen model. Performance scores (time and errors) were expressed in seconds. Afterward, time needed to regain proficiency was measured.

Results

On the box trainer, the median performance scores were 233 s (interquartile range [IQR] 27 s) for group 1, 180 s (IQR 55 s) for group 2, 169 s (IQR 26 s) for group 3, and 226 s (IQR 66 s) for group 4 (p = 0.03). No difference was seen between groups 2 and 3, both of which significantly outperformed groups 1 and 4. On the porcine Nissen model, no differences were detected between the groups (p = 0.53). Group 3 reached proficiency more quickly than the other groups.

Conclusions

Maintenance training is a valuable and necessary addendum to proficiency-based training programs for laparoscopic suturing. A maintenance-training interval of 1 month with unsupervised training sessions on simple box trainers seems ideal. The LapMentor® did not show any benefit. Performance differences between groups did not translate to a clinically relevant model, indicating that transfer of training is not perfect.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Ann, Ivan, Sarah and Rosita from the Center for Surgical Technologies for their administrative and logistic contribution to the study.

Disclosures

Dr. Van Bruwaene has no conflicts of interest of financial ties to disclose. Dr. Schijven received the Dutch subsidiary ‘Pieken in de Delta’ for enhancing patient safety trough serious gaming and the Innovation subsidiary in augmented reality from the Surfnet/Kennisnet innovation program. These grants are unrelated to the research described in this article. Prof. Miserez received the OOI 2005/39 grant for Educational Research, Development and Implementation project from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Part of the study was funded by this grant. The Center for Surgical Technologies Leuven, received educational grants for training purposes by Johnson & Johnson medical as well as Storz Medical. The LapMentorTM (Simbionix) virtual simulator was partially funded by Ethicon Inc. (Johnson & Johnson medical). The manuscript was previously published in abstract format (EAES, 17–20 June, 2009, Prague).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Surgical Technologies, Leuven, Belgium

    Siska Van Bruwaene & Marc Miserez

  2. Department of Urology, University Hospitals, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Siska Van Bruwaene

  3. Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Marlies P. Schijven

  4. Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Hospitals, Leuven, Belgium

    Marc Miserez

Authors
  1. Siska Van Bruwaene
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  2. Marlies P. Schijven
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  3. Marc Miserez
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Correspondence to Siska Van Bruwaene.

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Van Bruwaene, S., Schijven, M.P. & Miserez, M. Maintenance training for laparoscopic suturing: the quest for the perfect timing and training model: a randomized trial. Surg Endosc 27, 3823–3829 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-013-2981-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-013-2981-9

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