Simulation-based training for improving surgical performance and patient safety in minimally invasive surgery (MIS)

In this Simulation-based training for improving surgical performance and patient safety in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) project at University of Dundee, we aim to explore the development and validation of simulation-based training in laparoscopic and robotic surgery for improving quality of surgical performance and patient safety. 

To achieve the aim of this Simulation-based training for improving surgical performance and patient safety in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) Simulation-based training for improving surgical performance and patient safety in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) project at University of Dundee University of Dundee , a range of simulators and simulation methods will be developed and evaluated for laparoscopic and robotic surgery training.

Context

Minimally invasive surgery including laparoscopic and robotic surgery has increased annually since its introduction, especially in general surgery. However, the number of medical doctors as a proportion of the population has remained essentially the same for the last 30 year and there is a need to deliver 30 million abdominal and pelvic operations to which are mainly performed laparoscopically and are required about 100,000 to be trained in addition to the current number of trained surgeons worldwide. This is an unachievable goal with the current rates of training as laparoscopy training is a long and tedious procedure that requires significant amount of time of the operating theatre, and monitoring and assessing the performance by an expert surgeon, thus, there is an urgent need for a fundamental change in training of surgeons for laparoscopic operations.

We have advocated that

• the proficiency-gain curve and surgical errors should be transferred from operating theatres and patients into surgical skills training labs and onto simulators