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Validation of versatile training tissue based on konjac powder materials as a surgical training model
Ruriko Hiki1, Ryota Tanaka2, Shun Ishii3
1Sixth-Year Student, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Purpose:
Simulation-based surgical training is becoming increasingly important. However, dry laboratory materials lack tissue realism, whereas wet laboratory training raises ethical and cost concerns. We investigated Versatile Training Tissue (VTT), a konjac glucomannan-based model designed to solve problems. This study validated the use of VTT as an educational tool for surgical simulation.
Methods:
Twenty physicians, including 10 expert surgeons and 10 novice residents, performed dissection, ligation, excision, and suturing using the VTT (VESSEL-IN TYPE). The participants' performance was evaluated by three blinded specialist surgeons using four items extracted from the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills. Additionally, evaluations were conducted based on the measured procedural time and wound dehiscence area.
Results:
The expert group showed significantly better performances than the novice group in terms of the modified Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (14.0 vs. 8.7 points, P = 0.007), procedural time (455.5 vs. 891.6 s, P = 0.002), and wound dehiscence area, representing a 58% reduction (4.12 vs. 9.92 mm2, P = 0.039, Cohen's d = 1.025).
Conclusions:
The VTT demonstrated construct validity as an objective assessment tool for surgical training, offering realistic tissue properties. Our results suggest that VTT could be used as a simulation model for surgical training.
