Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Virtual reality simulation in training and assessment of laparoscopic skills

  • Clinical Review
  • Published:
European Clinics in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to describe the current status, advantages, and disadvantages of Virtual Reality simulators as tools for training and assessment of laparoscopic skills. This is a review of publications about Virtual Reality simulators in laparoscopic training and assessment. Information was obtained through author’s experience and by search of MEDLINE using the keywords Virtual Reality simulation, training, assessment and laparoscopic surgery. The references cited in these studies were reviewed to find out whether any other trials fitted the selection criteria. There are several validated Virtual Reality systems that allow the transfer of skills from the virtual environment to the operating room and objective assessment of operative skills in laparoscopic surgery. In conclusion, Virtual Reality simulators are valid and objective tools in surgical education. Several systems are currently considered sufficiently validated and ready to be implemented in comprehensive educational curricula in minimally invasive surgery.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Reference

  1. Deziel DJ, Milikan KW, Economou SG, Doolas A, Ko ST, Airan MC (1993) Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a national survey of 4,292 hospitals and an analysis of 77,604 cases. Am J Surg 165:9–14

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Jordan JA, Gallagher AG, McGuigan J, McClure N (2001) Virtual reality training leads to faster adaptation to the novel psychomotor restrictions encountered by laparoscopic surgeons. Surg Endosc 15:1080–1084

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Carter FJ, Schijven MP, Aggarwal, Grantcharov T, Francis NK, Hanna GB, Jakimowicz JJ, Work Group for Evaluation and Implementation of Simulators and Skills Training Programmes (2005) Consensus guidelines for validation of virtual reality surgical simulators. Surg Endosc 19:1523–1532

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Seymour NE, Gallagher AG, Roman SA, O’Brien MK, Bansal VK, Andersen DK, Satava RM (2002) Virtual reality training improves operating room performance: results of a randomized, double-blinded study. Ann Surg 236:458–463

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Grantcharov TP, Kristiansen VB, Bendix J, Bardram L, Rosenberg J, Funch-Jensen P (2004) Randomized clinical trial of virtual reality simulation for laparoscopic skills training. Br J Surg 91:146–150

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Grantcharov TP, Bardram L, Funch-Jensen P, Rosenberg J (2002) Assessment of technical surgical skills. Eur J Surg 168:139–144

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Darzi A, Smith S, Taffinder N (1999) Assessing operative skill. Needs to become more objective. BMJ 318:887–888

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hyltander A, Liljegren E, Rhodin PH, Lonroth H (2002) The transfer of basic skills learned in a laparoscopic simulator to the operating room. Surg Endosc 16:1324–1328

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Carter FJ, Francis NK, Tang B, Martindale JP, Cuschieri A (2003) Validation of a virtual reality simulator with error analysis of a simulated surgical procedure (abstract). Surg Endosc 17(Suppl1):S63

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hance J, Aggarwal R, Undre S, Patel H, Darzi A (2004) Evaluation of a laparoscopic video trainer with in-built measures of performance. Proceedings of the 13th Society of Laparoendoscopic meeting and EndoExpo, New York, USA, 29 September–2 October 2004

  11. Ayodeji ID, Schijven MP, Jakimowicz JJ, Bonjer HJ (2004) Face validation of the LapMentor laparoscopy trainer (abstract). Fall meeting of the Dutch Society of Surgery. Ede, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  12. Taffinder N, Russel RCG, McManus IC, Jansen J, Darzi A (1998) An objective assessment of surgeons’ psychomotor skills: validation of the MIST–VR laparoscopic simulator. Br J Surg 85(Supp 1):75

    Google Scholar 

  13. McNatt SS, Daniel Smith C (2001) A computer-based laparoscopic skills assessment device differentiates experienced from novice laparoscopic surgeons. Surg Endosc 15:1085–1089

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Gallagher AG, Richie K, McClure N, McGuigan J (2001) Objectiev psychomotor skills assessment of experienced, junior and novice laparoscopists with virtual reality. World J Surg 25:1478–1483

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Gallagher AG, Satava RM (2002) Virtual reality as a metric for the assessment of laparoscopic psychomotor skills: learning curve and reliability measures. Surg Endosc 16:1746–1752

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Grantcharov TP, Bardram L, Funch-Jensen P, Rosenberg J (2003) Learning curves and impact of previous operative experience on performance on a virtual reality simulator to test laparoscopic surgical skills. Am J Surg 185:146–149

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Gallagher AG, Lederman AB, McGlade K, Satava RM, Smith CD (2004) Discriminative validity of the minimally invasive surgical trainer-virtual reality (MIST-VR) using criteria levels based on expert performance. Surg Endosc 18:660–665

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Eriksen J, Grantcharov T (2005) Objective assessment of laparoscopic skills using virtual reality simulator. Surg Endosc 19:1216–1219

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Aggarwal R, Grantcharov TP, Eriksen JR, Blirup D, Kristiansen VB, Funch-Jensen P, Darzi A (2006) An evidence-based virtual reality training program for novice laparoscopic surgeons. Ann Surg 244:310–314

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Larsen CR, Grantcharov T, Aggarwal R, Tully A, Sorensen JL, Dalsgaard T, Ottesen B (2006) Objective assessment of gynecologic laparoscopic skills using the LapSimGyn virtual reality simulator. Surg Endosc 20:1460–1466

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Grantcharov TP, Rosenberg J, Pahle E, Funch-Jensen P (2001) Virtual reality computer simulation: an objective method for the evaluation of laparoscopic surgical skills. Surg Endosc 15:242–244

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Grantcharov TP, Funch-Jensen P (2006) Learning curve patterns in technical skills acquisition in laparoscopic surgery. Can anyone learn it? Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (ASGBI) Congress, Edinburgh, 3–6 May

  23. Salgado J, Grantcharov TP, Papasavas P, Gagne D, Caushaj P (2006) Technical skills assessment as a part of the selection process of fellows in minimally invasive surgery. 10th World congress of endoscopic surgery, Berlin, Germany, 13–16 September

  24. Kopta JA (1971) An approach to the evaluation of operative skills. Surgery 70:297–303

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Grantcharov TP, Schulze S, Kristiansen VB (2004) The impact of objective assessment and constructive feedback on improvement of laparoscopic performance in the operating room. 12th Congress of the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES), Barcelona, Spain, 9–12 June

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital, 30 Bond Street, 16th Floor CC Wing, Toronto, ON M5B 1WB, Canada

    Teodor P. Grantcharov

Authors
  1. Teodor P. Grantcharov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Teodor P. Grantcharov.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Grantcharov, T.P. Virtual reality simulation in training and assessment of laparoscopic skills. Eur Clinics Obstet Gynaecol 2, 197–200 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11296-006-0054-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11296-006-0054-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation