Effective Use of Laparoscopic Simulators in Gynecological Training
Abdurrahman Hamdi İnan1, Ahkam Göksel Kanmaz1, Alaattin Karabulut1
1Medical Doctor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Science University, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Türkiye.
Objective:
This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a haptic-enabled laparoscopic simulator in improving the surgical proficiency of residents across different experience levels.
Design:
This prospective study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a haptic laparoscopic simulator (LAP Mentor) for gynecological procedures among residents. Participants were divided into three groups based on experience: senior, midlevel, and junior residents, and completed simulations of bilateral tubal ligation and prophylactic oophorectomy, with performance metrics including time taken and instrument movements recorded.
Result:
While group 1 generally scored higher, no statistically significant differences were found between groups. Major bleeding incidents were rare, occurring once in group 2 during tubal ligation and twice in group 3 during prophylactic oophorectomy. Within-group analysis revealed improvements for group 2, which showed reduced duration (P = .006), left-hand movements (P = .009), and right-hand movements (P = .002) and group 3 also achieved statistically significant decreases in duration (P = .004), left-hand movements (P = .001), and right-hand movements (P = .003), indicating skill development over time.
Conclusion:
Limited but regular access to advanced simulators-offered two or three times annually-could empower residency programs to meet contemporary surgical training standards without incurring prohibitive costs, ensuring broader access to high-quality skills development.
