[A virtual reality simulator for objective assessment of surgeons' laparoscopic skill]

The aim of this study was to validate computed virtual reality simulation as a tool to assess laparoscopic skills and to establish whether the simulator allows differentiating between surgeons with different laparoscopic experience.

27 physicians at the surgical department of the University of Marburg, Germany, with different experience in laparoscopic surgery were divided into three groups: experienced (group I), intermediate (group II), and novices (group III). Following a brief introduction to the virtual reality simulator (LapSim), each participant performed twice a training program consisting of seven tasks (examinations I and II).

Comparison of experienced surgeons with less experienced laparoscopic physicians showed a significant (P<0.05) superiority of group I at examinations I and II in most exercises. The groups' difference was more obvious in examination II, since the technique was new for all participants during examination I. Tasks of low complexity in virtual reality such as camera navigation, which are performed by young, not yet responsible surgeons in real surgery, did not show significantly different results between the three groups.

Differences in laparoscopic experience can be visualised with a virtual reality simulator, and thus a simulator is helpful for assessing surgeons' laparoscopic skills.