title: A Prospective, Single-Arm, Single-Center, Case Series to Determine the Feasibility of Safe Skill Transfer for Transabdominal Preperitoneal (TAPP) Repair Utilizing a Hands-On Mentorship Model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is difficult to introduce laparoscopic surgery in institutions with a small number of patients, and surgical training relies heavily on mentors to produce well-trained surgeons. The aim of this study was to determine whether implementation of a hands-on mentorship model could provide safe skill transfer for transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  A trainee who had no experience with TAPP repair underwent operative tutorials until the mentor judged that the trainee could carry out the operation independently. Ten patients who underwent an elective TAPP repair were prospectively enrolled in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No cases had over 5 mL of bleeding, intraoperative/postoperative complications, or recurrence. There were significant differences in operation times between the first 4 cases and the later 5 cases, except for a bilateral inguinal hernia case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A prospective, single-arm, single-center, case series showed the feasibility of safe skill transfer for TAPP repair using a hands-on mentorship model.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological and General Surgery, Tokai University Hachioji Hospital, 1838 Ishikawa-machi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0032, Japan. nomura@hachioji-hosp.tokai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Higami
authors.forename: Wataru
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uda
authors.forename: Soichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tobita
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mukai
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makuuchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002983:Clinical Competence; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000193:education*; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D008875:Middle Aged; D017145:Models, Educational; D011446:Prospective Studies