Examining the learning curves in robotic cardiac surgery wet lab simulation training

Area of Science:

• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Surgical Simulation
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• Robotic-assisted cardiac surgery is advancing, increasing the need for effective training.
• The efficacy of wet lab simulation for robotic cardiac surgery skill acquisition is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare learning curves and skill acquisition rates in robotic cardiac surgery simulation.
• To assess novice cardiac and noncardiac surgeons' performance in a wet lab setting.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study involving 15 novice and 4 experienced surgeons.
• Novice surgeons practiced three robotic tasks in a porcine model.
• Performance evaluated using time-based scores and modified Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills (mGEARS).

Main Results:

• Novices achieved mastery in tasks like atrial closure, artery harvesting, and suturing.
• No significant differences in learning rates were found between cardiac and noncardiac novice surgeons.
• Noncardiac novices encountered more difficulty with internal thoracic artery harvesting in mGEARS.

Conclusions:

• Wet lab simulation effectively trains robotic cardiac surgical skills to expert levels.
• Training effectiveness is independent of prior open cardiac surgery experience.
• Supports wet lab simulators for standardized, competency-based robotic cardiac surgery education.