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High definition three-dimensional exoscope (VITOM 3D) for microsurgery training: a preliminary experience

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Abstract

Purpose

To assess the feasibility of a high definition 3D exoscope (VITOM®) for microsurgery training in a cohort of naïve medical students.

Methods

Twenty-two consecutive medical students performed a battery of four exercises assessing basic microsurgical skills. The students were randomized in two different groups based on two different VITOM® holding systems (VERSACRANE™ and ARTip™ cruise). Participants self-reported the VITOM® system quality on a 4-point Likert scale (VITOM Quality Assessment Tool). The time needed to complete the exercises was analyzed.

Results

All students successfully completed the training, and no technical issues were raised during the simulation. The majority of the individual items were judged “good” or “very good” (n = 187; 94.4%), regardless of the two groups. “Image quality” (n = 21; 95%), “magnification rate” (n = 20; 91%), “stereoscopic effect” (n = 19; 86%), and “focusing” (n = 18; 82%) represented the best-rated items. No statistically significant difference between the two groups was measured in almost all items of the VITOM Quality Assessment Tool (p > 0.05). The time needed to perform each exercise showed a statistically significant difference between groups in two tests (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated the feasibility of a VITOM-based microsurgery training. The students’ subjective assessment of the VITOM® 3D system was promising in terms of technological quality and technical feasibility. Further studies are recommended to define which VITOM® holding system could be more appropriate for microsurgery training.

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Availability of data and material

Data and material are available on request.

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Funding

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otorhinolaryngology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, MI, Italy

    Armando De Virgilio, Andrea Costantino, Valerio Conti, Tiziana Mondello, Matteo Di Bari, Giovanni Cugini, Giuseppe Mercante & Giuseppe Spriano

  2. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini, 4, 20090, Pieve Emanuele, MI, Italy

    Armando De Virgilio, Andrea Costantino, Valerio Conti, Tiziana Mondello, Matteo Di Bari, Giovanni Cugini, Giuseppe Mercante & Giuseppe Spriano

  3. Simulation Center, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini, 4, 20090, Pieve Emanuele, MI, Italy

    Claudia Ebm

Authors
  1. Armando De Virgilio
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  2. Andrea Costantino
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  3. Claudia Ebm
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  4. Valerio Conti
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  5. Tiziana Mondello
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  6. Matteo Di Bari
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  7. Giovanni Cugini
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  8. Giuseppe Mercante
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  9. Giuseppe Spriano
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Contributions

ADV: Study design, data analysis, manuscript development, review of final manuscript. AC: Study design, data collection and analysis, manuscript development, review of final manuscript. CE: Study design, review of final manuscript. VC: Study design, data collection, review of final manuscript. TM: Study design, data collection, review of final manuscript. GC: Study design, review of final manuscript. MDB: Data collection, review of final manuscript. GM: Study design, review of final manuscript. GS: Study design, review of final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea Costantino.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Ethics approval

The Institutional Ethic Committee of Humanitas Clinical and Research Center exemption was obtained prior to study initiation.

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from all participants before including them in the study.

Consent for publication

Consent for the publication of this study was obtained from both participants and the Ethical Committee of Humanitas Clinical and Research Center.

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Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (MP4 39896 kb) High definition video of the maneuvering test performed with the VITOM® 3D system

Supplementary file2 (MP4 18201 kb) High definition video of the pterional model test performed with the VITOM® 3D system

Supplementary file3 (MP4 29311 kb) High definition video of the micro-laryngeal test performed with the VITOM® 3D system

Supplementary file4 (MP4 51919 kb) High definition video of the gauze test performed with the VITOM® 3D system

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De Virgilio, A., Costantino, A., Ebm, C. et al. High definition three-dimensional exoscope (VITOM 3D) for microsurgery training: a preliminary experience. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 277, 2589–2595 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06014-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06014-7

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