How we acquire suturing skills for laparoscopic hepaticojejunostomy

Laparoscopic choledochal cyst excision and hepaticojejunostomy is a representative surgical procedure requiring laparoscopic suturing including needle driving and knot tying. Laparoscopic needle driving and knot tying is a highly technically demanding skill, especially in small infants and children. We developed a laparoscopic hepaticojejunostomy simulator for training. This simulator was developed for a 1-year-old infant body size based on computed tomography data and reproduced a pneumoperitoneum condition based on 3D scanner data of the clinical situation. Surgeon in training (SITs) of our institution have to acquire practice of laparoscopic hepaticojejunostomy using a simulator before performing clinical cases. Thirteen cases of choledochal cyst have been managed at our institution since the introduction of practice using this simulator in 2016. Six SITs performed 13 cases of laparoscopic choledochal cyst excision and hepaticojejunostomy. There were no cases of anastomotic bile leakage. Laparoscopic disease-specific simulator practice is effective for the acquisition of secure hepaticojejunostomy skills for the treatment of choledochal cysts in children as off-the-job training.