A High-Fidelity Agar-Based Phantom for Ultrasonography-Guided Brain Biopsy Simulation: A Novel Training Prototype...

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Neurosurgery Training
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Ultrasound-guided (USG) brain biopsy requires specialized training.
• Developing effective simulation models is crucial for skill acquisition.
• Multimodal feedback (visual and sonologic) can enhance training efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and assess a novel agar-based phantom for USG-guided brain biopsy training.
• To evaluate the impact of multimodal training on procedural performance.
• To compare the effectiveness of the training for participants with varying experience levels.

Main Methods:

• A novel agar phantom with embedded targets was created for USG-guided biopsy simulation.
• Twenty-five participants (familiar and unfamiliar with USG procedures) underwent pre- and post-training trials.
• Performance was quantified using metrics like efficiency and error scores, with and without visual cues.

Main Results:

• Experienced participants initially outperformed novices across most metrics.
• Following multimodal training, both groups achieved similar performance levels.
• Novice participants showed significant improvement in all measured performance metrics except insonation efficiency.

Conclusions:

• The developed agar phantom effectively supplements USG-guided brain biopsy training.
• Multimodal simulation training is particularly beneficial for enhancing the skills of beginners.
• This model aids in technical skill acquisition for USG-guided procedures.