Educational system of laparoscopic gastrectomy for trainee-how to teach, how to learn

The feasibility of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) has been gradually proven by several scientific works, however, proper training method for this kind of surgery are still under investigation and debate. Here we report our educational system of LG to enhance the skill of young surgeons in our hospital. Our training program for trainee consists of 3 years of junior residency and 2 years of senior residency programs, requiring 5 years in total. In order to master LG, three following factors seem to be essential: learning, practice and experience. Learning means that trainee study techniques and concepts by educational materials, such as operative videos, lectures, or textbook. Practice means animal laboratory training or dry box training to acquire hand-eye coordination or bi-hand coordination, leading to precise movement of surgical devices. Experience means actual on-site training, participating in clinical LG as scopist, assistant or operator. In the actual surgery, we have some common principles for scopist, assistant and operator, respectively, and these principles are shared by entire surgical team. These principles are transmitted from trainer to trainee using simple keywords repeatedly. In conclusion, combination and balance of the three factors, learning, practice and experience are necessary to efficiently advance education of LG for trainee and may leads to benefits for gastric cancer patients.