Key result
Laparoscopic simulation training improves operating room performance and reduces errors vs control for novice surgeons.
Why the study?
To better understand the translation of laparoscopic psychomotor skills acquired in dry lab training into direct patient benefit in the operating room.
Does simulation training in laparoscopic surgery improve surgical performance in surgical trainees or novice surgeons?
Systematic Review
Does simulation training in laparoscopic surgery improve surgical performance in surgical trainees or novice surgeons?
Dry lab simulation training for novice surgeons improves laparoscopic psychomotor skills and reduces operative errors, though evidence is limited by high risk of bias.
Dry-lab simulation may improve operative performance and shorten time; high-bias RCTs leave patient-outcome benefits unproven.
This systematic review aims to understand better the translation of laparoscopic psychomotor skills, acquired in dry lab training, into a direct patient benefit in actual clinical practice in the operating room. The review was performed according to PRISMA guidance, searching database-specific filters for controlled trials: 'laparoscopy', 'simulator', 'surgical training', 'dry lab', 'psychomotor skills'. We included only RCTs in which the study population was the surgical trainee or novice surgeon with no prior simulation training, and the intervention was simulation training in laparoscopic surgery, regardless of subspecialty. Ten studies were included in this systematic review. The mean performance score was higher compared to the control groups. Fewer errors were noted in the intervention groups. No clinical patient outcomes (mortality, morbidity, quality of life) were addressed in these studies. All the trials were at high risk of bias. Training outside the operating room may lead to better surgical performance and less operative time. Nevertheless, additional studies with better designs are needed to provide more robust evidence.
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Sleiman et al. (2021) conducted a systematic review in Surgical training in laparoscopic surgery. Simulation training in laparoscopic surgery (dry lab) vs. Control groups (no simulation training) was evaluated on Surgical performance and errors in the operating room. Simulation training in laparoscopic surgery for novice surgeons led to higher mean performance scores and fewer errors in the operating room compared to control groups.
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