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Laparoscopic training using a quantitative assessment and instructional system

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International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Laparoscopic surgery requires complex surgical skills; hence, surgeons require regular training to improve their surgical techniques. The quantitative assessment of a surgeon’s skills and the provision of feedback are important processes for conducting effective training. The aim of this study was to develop an inexpensive training system that provides automatic technique evaluation and feedback.

Methods

We detected the instrument using image processing of commercial web camera images and calculated the motion analysis parameters (MAPs) of the instrument to quantify performance features. Upon receiving the results, we developed a method of evaluating the surgeon’s skill level. The feedback system was developed using MAPs-based radar charts and scores for determining the skill level. These methods were evaluated using the videos of 38 surgeons performing a suturing task.

Results

There were significant differences in MAPs among surgeons; therefore, MAPs can be effectively used to quantify a surgeon’s performance features. The results of skill evaluation and feedback differed greatly between skilled and unskilled surgeons, and it was possible to indicate points of improvement for the procedure performed in this study. Furthermore, the results obtained for certain novice surgeons were similar to those obtained for skilled surgeons.

Conclusion

This system can be used to assess the skill level of surgeons, independent of the years of experience, and provide an understanding of the individual’s current surgical skill level effectively. We conclude that our system is useful as an inexpensive laparoscopic training system that might aid in skill improvement.

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Acknowledgements

This research was partly supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, PRESTO (No. JPMJPR16D9). T. Yamaguchi acknowledges financial support from Frontier Science Program of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Chiba University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical System Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan

    T. Yamaguchi

  2. Center for Frontier Medical Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan

    R. Nakamura

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  1. T. Yamaguchi
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Correspondence to R. Nakamura.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Cite this article

Yamaguchi, T., Nakamura, R. Laparoscopic training using a quantitative assessment and instructional system. Int J CARS 13, 1453–1461 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11548-018-1771-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11548-018-1771-1

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