Technical skills simulation in transplant surgery: a systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Medical Simulation Technology

Background:

• Transplant surgery demands high technical skill, directly impacting patient outcomes.
• Simulation-based training offers a promising avenue for enhancing surgeon technical skills in transplantation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically assess the current literature on simulation for improving surgeon technical skills in transplantation.
• To identify and categorize existing simulation models used in transplant surgery.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed and Scopus databases.
• Abstract screening using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Analysis of 172 abstracts by three independent reviewers to identify relevant studies.

Main Results:

• Identified simulators include virtual reality, cadaveric, animal, and synthetic physical models.
• No virtual reality simulators specific to transplant surgery were found in the literature.
• Eight synthetic physical models, seven animal models, and three cadaveric models were described for transplant surgery simulation.
• 18 publications focused on simulation for kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, and cardiac transplantation, with a majority on kidney transplantation.

Conclusions:

• This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of currently reported simulation models in transplant surgery.
• The findings serve as a valuable reference for surgeons and professionals aiming to improve technical skills through simulation.