Animate advanced laparoscopic courses improve resident operative performance.
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.
Scheeres
David E
DE
Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA. wiredsurgeon@comcast.net
Mellinger
John D
JD
Brasser
Bruce A
BA
Davis
Alan T
AT
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