Patient-specific simulation for endovascular procedures: qualitative evaluation of the development process

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Interventional Cardiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Simulation technology enables patient-specific rehearsal of carotid artery stenting (CAS).
• This study assesses the feasibility of using patient-specific CT data for simulator-based procedural rehearsal.
• The face validity of the developed simulation model was evaluated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of transferring patient-specific CT data into a simulator for carotid artery stenting (CAS) rehearsal.
• To assess the face validity and training potential of the patient-specific simulation model.
• To identify key factors influencing the setup time for simulation rehearsals.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative data analysis to generate an algorithm for simulation setup.
• Thematic analysis focusing on data transfer, software compatibility, and problem-solving.
• Face validity assessment by 15 expert interventionalists using a 5-point Likert scale.

Main Results:

• An algorithm for simulation setup was generated.
• Expert interventionalists rated the realism (median 4/5), training potential (median 4/5), and rehearsal potential for challenging CAS cases (median 4/5) highly.
• No major software compatibility issues were reported.

Conclusions:

• Patient-specific simulation setup for carotid artery stenting (CAS) is feasible and reproducible across different settings.
• The time required for 3D reconstruction from patient-specific CT data is a significant factor in total setup time.
• The simulation model demonstrates high face validity, indicating its potential as a valuable training tool.