An affordable laparoscopic surgery trainer for trainees in poor resource settings

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Medical Simulation
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• Laparoscopic surgery demands specialized skills like hand-eye coordination and depth perception.
• Surgical simulators are crucial for safe skill acquisition but are often costly and inaccessible in developing nations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and assembly of an affordable, homemade laparoscopic surgical simulator.
• To provide a readily available training tool for surgical residents in resource-limited environments.

Main Methods:

• The simulator was constructed using a polyethylene fluid container, a webcam, and a laptop.
• Assembly is straightforward, enabling surgical residents to build it for personal use.

Main Results:

• The developed simulator is inexpensive and easy to assemble.
• A key limitation is the fixed camera position, restricting the working area.

Conclusions:

• This homemade laparoscopic simulator offers a cost-effective solution for surgical training.
• The fixed camera design, while limiting the field of view, negates the need for a camera assistant.