Virtual reality laparoscopic simulator as an aid in surgical resident education: two years' experience

Virtual reality (VR) laparoscopic simulator training has been shown to augment the learning of skills needed in real laparoscopic operations. We report here our two-year experience of using a VR simulator in the training of surgical residents.

A VR laparoscopic simulator was purchased for Päijät-Häme Central Hospital at the end of November 2005. From 1 December 2005 onwards surgical residents in our hospital were encouraged to voluntarily practise with the VR simulator. After the VR simulator had been in use for two years all the data stored in the simulator's computer memory was collected and analysed.

In this two-year period a total of 79 persons practised with the simulator. The total number of performed tasks stored in the computer was 2,090. The training activity varied greatly between residents (6-171 tasks). The performance in simulator tasks differentiated between residents and GI surgeons. The learning curve of the residents in basic tasks was steep but their performance failed to reach the level of experienced laparoscopic surgeons in most tasks.

The VR simulator was well used. Practising with a VR simulator on a voluntary basis can result in inadequate training. The VR laparoscopic simulator differentiates between subjects with different laparoscopic skills and shows good construct validity.