Effectiveness of short-term endoscopic surgical skill training for young pediatric surgeons: a validation study using the laparoscopic fundoplication simulator.
OBJECTIVE
Pediatric surgeons require highly advanced skills when performing endoscopic surgery; however, their experience is often limited in comparison to general surgeons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic surgery training for less-experienced pediatric surgeons and then compare their skills before and after training.


METHODS
Young pediatric surgeons (n = 7) who participated in this study underwent a 2-day endoscopic skill training program, consisting of lectures, box training and live tissue training. The trainees performed the Nissen construction tasks before and after training using our objective evaluation system. A statistical analysis was conducted using the two-tailed paired Student's t tests.


RESULTS
The time for task was 984 ± 220 s before training and 645 ± 92.8 s after training (p < 0.05). The total path length of both forceps was 37855 ± 10586 mm before training and 22582 ± 3045 mm after training (p < 0.05). The average velocity of both forceps was 26.1 ± 3.68 mm/s before training and 22.9 ± 2.47 mm/sec after training (p < 0.1). The right and left balance of suturing was improved after training (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric surgery trainees improved their surgical skills after receiving short-term training. We demonstrated the effectiveness of our training program, which utilized a new laparoscopic fundoplication simulator.
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.|Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
Takahiro
T
Jimbo
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. satoshi@med.kyushu-u.ac.jp.|Department of Advanced Medicine and Innovative Technology, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan. satoshi@med.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
Satoshi
S
Ieiri
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Satoshi
S
Obata
Department of Advanced Medicine and Innovative Technology, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
Munenori
M
Uemura
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.|Department of Advanced Medicine and Innovative Technology, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
Ryota
R
Souzaki
Kyoto Kagaku Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan.
Noriyuki
N
Matsuoka
Kyoto Kagaku Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan.
Tamotsu
T
Katayama
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
Kouji
K
Masumoto
Department of Advanced Medicine and Innovative Technology, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
Makoto
M
Hashizume
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Tomoaki
T
Taguchi
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000193:education*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D000066908:Simulation Training / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D066231:Surgeons / Q000193:education*
Endoscopic surgery; Fundoplication model; Pediatric surgeon; Short-term training