Video-assisted versus conventional microsurgical training: a comparative study in the rat model.

Area of Science:

• Surgical Innovation
• Microsurgery Training
• Medical Technology Evaluation

Background:

• Advancements in video-guided surgical systems offer new possibilities for magnification in microsurgery.
• Traditional table-top microscopes are the standard for microsurgical procedures and training.
• Evaluating alternative technologies like video-endoscopic systems (VES) is crucial for advancing surgical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the video-endoscopic system (VES) as an alternative magnification solution for microsurgical procedures.
• To compare the technical and surgical aspects of VES against traditional table-top microscopes.
• To evaluate the efficacy of VES in microsurgery training for novice surgeons.

Main Methods:

• Six surgical residents with no prior microsurgical experience participated in the study.
• Participants performed 12 aortic end-to-end anastomoses on Sprague-Dawley rats using both VES and microscopes.
• Anastomosis quality was evaluated based on total/single suture time, spacing, vessel bite, overlapping, and wall penetration.

Main Results:

• Overall anastomosis quality scores were 52.28 for microscopes and 42.7 for VES.
• Significant differences were observed in total anastomosis time between the two systems.
• Learning curves for both systems were similar, with no major differences in overall anastomosis quality.

Conclusions:

• Video-endoscopic systems demonstrate a similar learning curve to traditional microscopes for microsurgery training.
• Despite differences in procedural time, VES shows comparable overall anastomosis quality, making it a valuable training instrument.
• Video-assisted microsurgery presents a promising alternative for enhancing microsurgical education and skill development.