Role of laparoscopic simulators in the development and assessment of laparoscopic surgical skills in laparoscopic surgery and gynecology (Review)
Michail Varras, Nikolaos Nikiteas, Viktoria‐Konstantina Varra, Fani‐Niki Varra, Evangelos Georgiou, Constantinos Loukas
Abstract
The aim of the present review article was to provide an overview of the evaluation and capability of the different types of laparoscopic simulators in the application of training in laparoscopic gynecological surgery. The literature suggests that the acquisition of surgical psychomotor skills is best achieved in a simulated laboratory outside of the live operating environment. The present review article includes scientific publications on current laparoscopic gynecological simulators, including laparoscopic box trainers, laparoscopic virtual reality simulators, animal models, human cadavers and lightly embalmed human cadavers. At present, controversy exists as to the superiority of virtual reality simulators over laparoscopic box trainers on the transferability and development of minimally invasive surgical skills for the justification of their increased cost. The present review article covers the role of simulation‑based surgical education in the development and assessment of the appropriated surgical skills for laparoscopic gynecological procedures. Within the surgical curriculum, the tertiary laparoscopic training hospitals should include surgical simulation‑based programs for laparoscopic training to gynecologists outside the live operation rooms under appropriate supervision.