Video games and surgical ability: a literature review.
OBJECTIVE
Surgical training is rapidly evolving because of reduced training hours and the reduction of training opportunities due to patient safety concerns. There is a popular conception that video game usage might be linked to improved operating ability especially those techniques involving endoscopic modalities. If true this might suggest future directions for training.


METHODS
A search was made of the MEDLINE databases for the MeSH term, "Video Games," combined with the terms "Surgical Procedures, Operative," "Endoscopy," "Robotics," "Education," "Learning," "Simulators," "Computer Simulation," "Psychomotor Performance," and "Surgery, Computer-Assisted,"encompassing all journal articles before November 2009. References of articles were searched for further studies.


RESULTS
Twelve relevant journal articles were discovered. Video game usage has been studied in relationship to laparoscopic, gastrointestinal endoscopic, endovascular, and robotic surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Video game users acquire endoscopic but not robotic techniques quicker, and training on video games appears to improve performance.
Lynch
Jeremy
J
Department of Surgery, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, United Kingdom. jeremy.lynch@gmail.com
Aughwane
Paul
P
Hammond
Toby M
TM
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004724:Endoscopy; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards; D010535:Laparoscopy; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012371:Robotics; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000592:standards*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards; D018910:Video Games / Q000523:psychology