Filling the gap between the OR and virtual simulation: a European study on a basic neurosurgical procedure

European Neurosurgery Simulation Study Group (ENSSG), Kaspar Auslands (Member of the Working Group)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Currently available simulators are supposed to allow young neurosurgeons to hone their technical skills in a safe environment, without causing any unnecessary harm to their patients caused by their inexperience. For this training method to be largely accepted in neurosurgery, it is necessary to prove simulation efficacy by means of large-scale clinical validation studies. Methods: We correlated and analysed the performance at a simulator and the actual operative skills of different neurosurgeons (construct validity). We conducted a study involving 92 residents and attending neurosurgeons from different European Centres; each participant had to perform a virtual task, namely the placement of an external ventricular drain (EVD) at a neurosurgical simulator (ImmersiveTouch). The number of attempts needed to reach the ventricles and the accuracy in positioning the catheter were assessed. Results: Data suggests a positive correlation between subjects who placed more EVDs in the previous year and those who get better scores at the simulator (p =.008) (fewer attempts and better surgical accuracy). The number of attempts to reach the ventricle was also analysed; senior residents needed fewer attempts (mean = 2.26; SD = 1.11) than junior residents (mean = 3.12; SD = 1.05) (p =.007) and staff neurosurgeons (mean = 2.89, SD = 1.23). Scoring results were compared by using the Fisher’s test, for the analysis of the variances, and the Student’s T test. Surprisingly, having a wider surgical experience overall does not correlate with the best performance at the simulator. Conclusion: The performance of an EVD placement on a simulator correlates with the density of the neurosurgical experience for that specific task performed in the OR, suggesting that simulators are able to differentiate neurosurgeons according to their surgical ability. Namely this suggests that the simulation performance reflects the surgeons’ consistency in placing EVDs in the last year.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2087-2097
Number of pages11
JournalActa Neurochirurgica
Volume160
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords*

  • Construct validity
  • EVD placement
  • Patient’s safety
  • Residency training
  • Simulation

Field of Science*

  • 3.2 Clinical medicine

Publication Type*

  • 1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database

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