title: Animate advanced laparoscopic courses improve resident operative performance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of animate training laboratories have been touted as an important part of a surgical resident's training. This study determines if there was any benefit in resident performance and whether that benefit persisted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve senior surgical residents attended a course in advanced laparoscopy with didactic and laboratory components. The residents' skills were tested by having them perform a laparoscopic fundoplication before, immediately after, and 6 months after the course. The procedure was videotaped, and divided into stages that were timed and scored by a single, masked observer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall performance score was 35.7 +/- 2.5 for the pretest, improving to 16.5 +/- 1.2 (P <0.05) immediately after the course, and 23.7 +/- 5.1 (P <0.05) at 6 months. Significant improvements were seen with trocar insertion, crural closure, division of short gastric arteries, and fundoplication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data presented demonstrate significant and persistent improvement in laparoscopic operative skills as a result of focused laboratory skill training.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA. wiredsurgeon@comcast.net
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Scheeres
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Mellinger
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Brasser
authors.forename: Alan T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000193:education; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010535:Laparoscopy; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000193:education