Endoscopic surgery training: application of an in vitro trainer and in vivo swine model

The development of endoscopic surgical procedures is changing general surgery, with many operations such as cholecystectomy, appendectomy, and hernia repair being performed using laparoscopic surgical techniques. Training and credentialing of surgeons are key issues for the safe and ethical introduction of these new procedures. This article reviews techniques employed at our institution for laparoscopic surgical training and certification including didactic instruction, an in-vitro model for learning instrumentation and hand-eye coordination, and in-vivo training using the porcine animal model.