An Interactive Holographic Curriculum for Urogynecologic Surgery

Area of Science:

• Urogynecology
• Surgical Education
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Transvaginal pelvic floor surgery demands tactile learning and pattern recognition.
• Limited operating room experience necessitates alternative training methods for surgical residents.
• Developing spatial understanding of pelvic anatomy is crucial for urogynecologic procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a self-guided curriculum for improving spatial understanding of pelvic floor anatomy.
• To enhance trainee preparedness for urogynecologic surgeries outside the operating room.
• To provide a novel method for learning complex pelvic floor anatomy and surgical techniques.

Main Methods:

• Developed an interactive holographic curriculum utilizing augmented reality smartglasses.
• Focused on teaching uterosacral ligament suspension and sacrospinous ligament fixation.
• Piloted the curriculum with obstetrics and gynecology residents and subspecialty fellows.

Main Results:

• The holographic curriculum was widely accepted by trainees across postgraduate levels 1-6.
• 88% of trainees rated the modules as "much" or "very much better" than usual self-study.
• 81% expressed likelihood to use mixed reality smartglasses for surgical preparation.

Conclusions:

• Interactive holographic curriculum is a novel technique for teaching pelvic floor anatomy and surgical procedures.
• This method effectively teaches complex anatomy, procedural steps, and complication management for common prolapse repairs.
• The curriculum demonstrates high acceptance among residents and fellows, indicating its potential in surgical training.