Open surgical simulation--a review.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Simulation Technology

Background:

• Surgical simulation is increasingly vital due to changes in traditional surgical training models.
• Existing literature predominantly covers minimally invasive techniques, with limited focus on open surgical simulation.
• This review addresses the gap by examining current open surgical simulators and their training benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current landscape of open surgical simulators.
• To synthesize existing literature on the efficacy of open surgical simulation.
• To highlight the importance of open surgical skills as a foundation for advanced procedures.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of 18 studies (6 RCTs, 12 cohort studies) on open surgical simulation.
• Analysis of simulators including live animals, cadavers, bench models, and virtual reality.
• Inclusion of studies across various surgical specialties (general, cardiac, trauma, etc.).

Main Results:

• Open surgical simulation generally shows significant benefits in developing surgical trainees' skills.
• Studies utilized diverse models like live animals, benchtop exercises, and cadavers.
• Identified limitations include small sample sizes, varied assessment methods, and short-term follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Open surgical simulation is a valuable adjunct to surgical training, particularly given reduced resident exposure.
• Improved research quality and objective assessment tools are crucial for advancing open surgical simulation.
• Developing advanced open surgical skills is fundamental before progressing to complex laparoscopic techniques.