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Simulator Training for Endovascular Neurosurgery
Published on: May 6, 2020
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Simulation reduces navigational errors in cerebral angiography training
Oleksiy Zaika1,2, Mel Boulton3, Roy Eagleson4
1Anatomy & Cell Biology, Western University, London, Canada.
Advances in Simulation (London, England)
|June 18, 2020
Summary
Self-guided virtual reality training significantly reduced navigational errors in simulated cerebral angiography (CA) for novices. High spatial reasoning skills correlated with better performance, suggesting targeted training can improve endovascular procedure proficiency.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Endovascular Surgery
- Virtual Reality Simulation
Background:
- Simulation-based medical education (SBME) enhances skills training in various medical specialties.
- Cerebral angiography (CA) is a complex endovascular procedure requiring specialized navigation skills.
- SBME can provide a platform for CA training outside the operating room, addressing the need to identify and overcome navigational challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess navigational challenges in simulated CA using a self-guided novice training program.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality simulation in improving CA navigation skills.
- To identify factors influencing performance in simulated CA.
Main Methods:
- 14 novice participants underwent 8 sessions of virtual reality (ANGIO Mentor) diagnostic cerebral angiography training.
- Navigational trajectories and erroneous vessel access rates were analyzed.
- Participants completed a Mental Rotations Test (MRT) to assess spatial reasoning abilities.
Main Results:
- Significant reduction (p < 0.05) in navigational errors after 8 training sessions.
- Greatest error reduction observed in L-SUB and L-CCA; R-ECA access frequency remained unchanged.
- Participants with high MRT scores demonstrated significantly better performance (p < 0.05) than those with low scores.
Conclusions:
- Self-guided simulation effectively highlights navigational difficulties in simulated CA.
- Developing self-guided curricula can standardize training, facilitate error correction, and reduce reliance on supervisory resources.
- Simulation offers a viable method for repetitive practice and skill refinement in endovascular procedures.
