Transfer of suturing technical skill assessment scores between virtual reality surgical simulation and live surgery

You have accessJournal of UrologySurgical Technology & Simulation: Training & Skills Assessment (PD58)1 Sep 2021PD58-07 TRANSFER OF SUTURING TECHNICAL SKILL ASSESSMENT SCORES BETWEEN VIRTUAL REALITY SURGICAL SIMULATION AND LIVE SURGERY Daniel I. Sanford, Runzhuo Ma, Alireza Ghoreifi, Taseen F. Haque, and Andrew J. Hung Daniel I. SanfordDaniel I. Sanford More articles by this author , Runzhuo MaRunzhuo Ma More articles by this author , Alireza GhoreifiAlireza Ghoreifi More articles by this author , Taseen F. HaqueTaseen F. Haque More articles by this author , and Andrew J. HungAndrew J. Hung More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002092.07AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Surgical technical skill has been linked to post-operative clinical outcomes. Virtual reality (VR) simulators provide opportunities for training surgeons to learn fundamental technical skills and receive feedback prior to attempting live surgery. The present study evaluates the ability to translate standardized suturing technical skill assessments between VR simulation and live surgery. METHODS: 20 surgeons completed a VR simulation suturing exercise on the MimicTM Flex VR simulator. Surgical videos of the same surgeons performing the anterior vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA) during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy were also obtained. Three independent and blinded graders (AG, RM, DS) received standardized training and provided technical skill assessment scores using the validated assessment tool Robotic Anastomosis Competency Evaluation (RACE). Discrepant scores were discussed until group consensus was reached. Scores between training (<100 robotic caseload) and expert (≥100) surgeons were compared by Wilcoxon rank sum test; correlations between VR and live scores were assessed by Spearman’s correlation coefficients (ρ). RESULTS: Training (n=5, median caseload 6 [IQR 0-30]) and expert (n=15, 300 [165-750]) surgeons participated. In live surgery, Overall and Needle driving scores were significantly higher for experts (p = 0.045 and 0.009, respectively) (Figure 1A). In VR simulation, Needle driving scores were significantly higher for experts (p = 0.045) (Figure 1B). Statistically significant correlations for scores provided between VR simulation and live surgery were found for Overall and Needle driving scores (ρ=0.555, p=0.011; ρ=0.570, p=0.009, respectively) (Figure 1C). In live surgery and VR simulation, other skills domains were unable to differentiate surgeon expertise and did not statistically correlate between mediums (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that Overall and Needle driving technical skill scores provided in VR and live surgery were significantly correlated. Additionally, we found that Needle driving scores could distinguish surgeon expertise in both settings. Our data support the transferability of skills assessments between VR simulation and live surgery. Certain evaluation metrics (Needle driving) may be more robust. Source of Funding: National Institutes of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health under Award K23EB026493. © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e1019-e1019 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Daniel I. Sanford More articles by this author Runzhuo Ma More articles by this author Alireza Ghoreifi More articles by this author Taseen F. Haque More articles by this author Andrew J. Hung More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...