Telementoring. A practical option in surgical training

Telemedicine offers significant advantages in bringing consulting support to distant colleagues. There is a shortage of surgeons trained in performing advanced laparoscopic operations.

Our aim was to evaluate the role of telementoring in the training of advanced laparoscopic surgical procedures.

Student surgeons received a uniform training format to enhance their laparoscopic skills and intracorporeal suturing techniques and specific procedural training in laparoscopic colonic resections and Nissen fundoplication. Subsequently, operating rooms were equipped with three cameras. Telestrator (teleguidance device), instant replay (to critique errors), and CD-ROM programs (to provide information of reference) were used as intraoperative educational assistance tools. In phase I, four colonic resections were performed with the mentor in the operating room (group A) and four colonic resections were performed with the mentor on the hospital grounds, but not in the operating room (group B). The voice and video signals were received at the mentor's location, using coaxial cable. In phase II, two Nissen fundoplications were performed with the mentors in the operating room (group C) and two Nissen fundoplications were performed with the mentors positioned five miles away from the operating room (group D), using currently existing land lines at the T-1 level.

There were no differences in the performances of the surgeons and outcome of the operations between groups A & B and C & D. It was possible to tackle the intraoperative problems effectively.

The telementoring concept is potentially a safe and cost-effective option for advanced training in laparoscopic operations. Further investigation is necessary before routine transcontinental patient applications are attempted.