Endoscopic simulators in benign prostatic hyperplasia surgical training: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Simulation
• Urology

Background:

• Simulation-based training (SBT) is crucial for developing surgical skills in a risk-free environment.
• The rise of new endoscopic therapies for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) necessitates updated learning tools.
• This review outlines available endoscopic BPH simulators.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive and updated overview of existing endoscopic simulators for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) surgery.
• To identify and categorize simulators based on the surgical procedure they represent.
• To assess data on simulator validity, acceptability, and feasibility.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted following Joanna Briggs Institute methodology.
• Searches of major databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL) and Google Scholar were performed.
• Included studies were original articles on endoscopic BPH surgery simulators, with data extraction on validity, acceptability, and feasibility.

Main Results:

• Forty-five records were analyzed, focusing on simulators for transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), GreenLight laser prostatectomy (PVP), anatomic endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (AEEP), and Urolift.
• Various simulator types were identified, including bench-top, virtual reality, food-based phantoms, porcine models, and cadaver prostates.
• Virtual simulation was the sole modality for PVP, ThuLEP, and Urolift simulators.

Conclusions:

• There is a need to develop simulation-based training (SBT) models for BPH surgeries beyond transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
• Future BPH surgical simulation models should be rigorously evaluated using modern validity metrics.
• Integration of validated simulators into surgical training curricula is recommended.