Effectiveness of basic endoscopic surgical skill training for pediatric surgeons.
OBJECTIVE
Pediatric surgeons require highly advanced skills when performing endoscopic surgery, but their experience with such cases tend to be limited in comparison to general surgeons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of basic endoscopic surgery training for less-experienced young pediatric surgeons and then compare their skills with those of general surgeons.


METHODS
The surgeons (n = 477) subjected to this study underwent a 2-day endoscopic skill training program, consisting of lectures, box training, VR simulator training, tissue training, and live tissue training. The trainees were divided into two groups: P (pediatric surgeons, n = 33) and G (general surgeons, n = 444). The trainees were required to make a continuous suture along a circle measuring 2.5 cm in diameter and the findings were evaluated both before and after training. A statistical analysis was conducted using the unpaired t test.


RESULTS
The number of experienced cases totaled 20.8 ± 23.9 in P and 60.6 ± 80.5 in G (p < 0.001). The number of completed sutures before training was 1.4 ± 1.1 in P and 1.9 ± 1.5 in G (p < 0.05). The number of completed sutures after training was 4.1 ± 1.3 in P and 3.9 ± 1.9 in G (p > 0.05). The economy and speed of the forceps improved, however, the number of errors increased.


CONCLUSIONS
Less-experienced pediatric surgeons improved their surgical skill and ability until reaching almost the same level as that observed in more experienced general surgeons during training, however, the number of errors after training increased in comparison to before training. As a result, this program needs to be modified to reduce the number of errors while enabling pediatric surgeons to master the safe and precise surgical techniques needed in this field.
Ieiri
Satoshi
S
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. satoshi@med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Nakatsuji
Takanori
T
Higashi
Mayumi
M
Akiyoshi
Junko
J
Uemura
Munenori
M
Konishi
Kouzou
K
Onimaru
Manabu
M
Ohuchida
Kenoki
K
Hong
Jaesung
J
Tomikawa
Morimasa
M
Tanoue
Kazuo
K
Hashizume
Makoto
M
Taguchi
Tomoaki
T
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies