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

Recent technical development has led to remarkable performances in video-guided surgical procedures. A video-endoscopic system (VES) is evaluated as an alternative magnifying solution for microsurgical procedures and compared to table-top microscopes in terms of technical and surgical aspects. Six surgical residents without microsurgical experience, alternating both systems, performed each 12 aortic end-to-end anastomoses on Sprague-Dawley rats using the triangulation technique. All anastomoses underwent quality review, total and single suture time, suture spacing, vessel bite, vessel overlapping and wall penetration were evaluated and graded. Overall anastomosis quality score was 52.28 (out of a maximum of 140) using the microscope and 42.7 using the VES. Despite significant differences in total anastomosis time, the learning curves are similar for the two systems and no major differences were noted in terms of overall anastomosis quality. Video-assisted microsurgery can become a useful instrument for microsurgery training.