[The benefits of simulation in bronchial endoscopy]

Bronchoscopy is an invasive procedure that can be difficult for patients to tolerate, especially if the operator is inexperienced. Simulation enables trainees to perfect their skills, while adhering to an ethical approach: "never the first time on a patient". The main aim of our study is to demonstrate the benefits of simulation in learning how to perform bronchial endoscopy, in terms of dexterity, speed of execution and anatomical recognition by the operator.

Prospective, monocentric study conducted at SIMU SANTE in the Amiens university hospital. Our study population consisted of volunteer interns or young doctors who were new to bronchoscopy. After filling out a questionnaire and undergoing theoretical training, participants completed three training sessions at regular intervals. We compared three groups according to the interval between sessions (group A: 15 days, group B: 30 days, group C: 60 days). Regarding judgment criteria, we observed several parameters: dexterity, speed and anatomical recognition by the operator.

In terms of speed, median procedure time was reduced by 40% after three sessions. Dexterity improved in the 15-day interval group, with a significant reduction in wall contact. Concerning the precision parameter, we observed a significant difference between the three groups, with greater improvement in the identification score in the 15-day interval group.

Simulation has made it possible to acquire basic skills in bronchoscopy. Training sessions with a short time interval (one session every 15 days) most rapidly increase operators' speed, dexterity and precision.