title: Task-specific bench model training versus basic laparoscopic skills training for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Performing a laparoscopic urethrovesical anastomosis (LUA) after a radical prostatectomy is technically challenging for the novice laparoscopic surgeon. We developed a low-fidelity urethrovesical model (UVM) to allow a urologist to practise this critical step. The aim of our study was to compare the effect of task-specific bench model training (anastomotic suturing on the UVM) with that of basic laparoscopic suturing on intracorporeal urethrovesical anastomosis performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 28 senior surgical residents, fellows or staff surgeons for this prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled study. We randomly assigned participants to an intervention group practising LUA on the UVM or to a control group practising basic laparoscopic suturing and knot-tying on a foam pad. After practising, we videotaped participants performing 5 intra-corporeal interrupted sutures on a foam pad and a LUA on the UVM. A blinded expert scored the videotaped performance using a laparoscopic suturing checklist (CL) and a global rating scale (GRS), and timed the performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the foam pad suturing task, the group that trained on the UVM had significantly higher CL scores (10.9 v. 8.1, p = 0.017). On the LUA task, the group that trained on the UVM had significantly higher CL scores (10.9 v. 8.1, p = 0.017), GRS (29.6 v. 22.8, p = 0.005) and shorter times (27.6 v. 38.3 min, p = 0.004) than the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our task-specific bench model was shown to be superior to basic laparoscopic suturing drills on a foam pad.
authors.affiliation: Sherbrooke University, Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Sherbrooke, Que., and.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sabbagh
authors.forename: Suman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chawla
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.forename: Edward D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Matsumoto