Percutaneous renal access simulators

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Surgical Education
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Percutaneous renal access is essential for procedures like percutaneous renal drainage and percutaneous nephrolithotomy.
• Urologists are increasingly performing percutaneous renal access independently, enhancing procedural flexibility.
• There is a notable scarcity of training models for percutaneous renal access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing training models for percutaneous renal access.
• To highlight the role of simulation in surgical education for urologists.

Main Methods:

• Review of current training methodologies for percutaneous renal access.
• Description of bench models utilizing porcine kidneys and simulated flank material.
• Introduction of the PERC Mentor, a virtual-reality simulator for percutaneous renal puncture training.

Main Results:

• Two bench models incorporating porcine kidneys have been developed for training.
• A virtual-reality simulator, the PERC Mentor, specifically targets percutaneous renal puncture training.
• Hands-on intraoperative training remains the predominant method for skill acquisition.

Conclusions:

• Novel training models, including bench and virtual reality simulators, can supplement traditional hands-on training.
• These adjuncts can improve urologists' proficiency in percutaneous renal access.
• Simulation-based education offers a valuable addition to the learning curve for percutaneous renal access.