Pancreatic anastomosis training models: Current status and future directions

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Gastrointestinal Surgery
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a significant complication following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD).
• Surgeon experience is a critical factor influencing POPF rates, highlighting a substantial learning curve for pancreatic anastomosis.
• Existing research primarily addresses patient risk factors and anastomotic techniques, with less focus on surgical training models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a literature review on current training models for pancreatic anastomosis.
• To identify research gaps and future directions in surgical simulation for PD.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature on pancreatic anastomosis training.
• Analysis of current simulation technologies and their applicability to pancreatic surgery.

Main Results:

• The literature review identified a need for improved training methods.
• Current synthetic models do not fully replicate pancreatic biomechanics.
• Virtual reality (VR) presents a promising avenue for surgical training, but requires further development.

Conclusions:

• Further research into the mechanical properties of the pancreas is essential for creating realistic synthetic training models.
• Development of high-fidelity VR pancreatic anastomosis training modules with haptic feedback is a key area for future investigation.
• Enhanced training models are vital for improving surgeon proficiency and reducing POPF complications.