Does an aptitude for surgery exist and can we predict it? an experimental study.

BACKGROUND: The selection and allocation of surgeons with a greater potential for high surgical performance are essential aspects of improving the quality, safety and effectiveness of surgical procedures. Objective of this trial was to determine the existence of basic skills and traits that would predict better performance in surgery, and those predictive factors that constitute a driving force in different stages of training. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The randomized crossover training trial took place from January 2021 to December 2021 and was conducted at an educational training center for minimally invasive surgery. A total of n=87 physicians (residents and experts) from surgical disciplines and n=239 fifth-year medical students were studied. The participants underwent extensive neuropsychological testing and surgical training, which was performed with conventional as well as robot-assisted laparoscopy by way of identical brief tasks conducted six times in a randomized crossover setting. Main Outcome was the latent factor structure of "psychomotor skills", "personality" and "motivation" based on structural equation modeling. RESULTS: The training performance of both students and physicians was significantly explained by the interaction of the three factors (explained variance: 8.2% for students, 23.8% for physicians). In students, motivation (explained variance 8.4%) and personality (explained variance 4.5%) revealed the highest contribution to surgical training performance (explained variance through psychomotor skills 1.1%). In physicians, psychomotor skills (explained variance 27.4%) made the greatest contribution to surgical training performance (explained variance through motivation 2.3%; explained variance through personality 10.5%). CONCLUSION: The study showed that surgical performance is sensitive to, and fragile in regard of non-surgery-related general individual traits. This aligns with the notion that early selection of surgeons with prospects of high surgical performance is possible, and perhaps even necessary in order to keep up with future demands on the medical system.

The Feasibility of Practical Training in Minimally Invasive Surgery at Medical School-A Prospective Study on the Pelvitrainer.

Background and Objectives: The acquisition of practical skills at medical school is an important part of the multidimensional education program of future physicians. However, medical schools throughout the world have been slow in incorporating practical skills in their curriculum. Therefore, the aims of the present prospective study were (a) to demonstrate the feasibility of such surgical training, (b) to objectify its benefit in medical education, and (c) to investigate the impact of such training on subsequent career choices. Material and Methods: We introduced a two-day laparoscopy course on the pelvitrainer as part of the curriculum of the gynecological internship of fifth year medical students from 2019 to 2020. The results of the students' training were matched to those of surgeons who completed the same curriculum in a professional postgraduate laparoscopy course from 2017 to 2020 in a comparative study design. Additionally, we performed a questionnaire-based evaluation of the impact of the course on medical education and subsequent career choices directly before and after completing the course. Results: A total of 261 medical students and 206 physicians completed the training program. At baseline, the students performed significantly more poorly than physicians in a median of three of four exercises (p < 0.001). However, this evened out in the final runs, during which students performed more poorly than physicians only in one exercise and even better than physicians in one. The general integration of surgical training in medical school curricula was rated very low (12.4% on the VAS, IQR 3-16%) despite the high demand for such training. In the survey, the course was deemed very beneficial for medical education (median VAS 80.7%, IQR 73-98%), but did not appear to influence the students' subsequent career preferences. Conclusions: The acquisition of practical surgical skills during medical school is significantly under-represented in many medical faculties. The benefits of such training, as demonstrated in our study, would improve the education of future physicians.

Molecular Determinants of Uterine Receptivity: Comparison of Successful Implantation, Recurrent Miscarriage, and Recurrent Implantation Failure.

Embryo implantation is one of the most remarkable phenomena in human reproduction and is not yet fully understood. Proper endometrial function as well as a dynamic interaction between the endometrium itself and the blastocyst-the so-called embryo-maternal dialog-are necessary for successful implantation. Several physiological and molecular processes are involved in the success of implantation. This review describes estrogen, progesterone and their receptors, as well as the role of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), IL-11, IL-1, and the glycoprotein glycodelin in successful implantation, in cases of recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and in cases of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Are there differences at the molecular level underlying RIF or RPL? Since implantation has already taken place in the case of RPL, it is conceivable that different molecular biological baseline situations underlie the respective problems.

Factors influencing surgical performance and learning progress in minimally invasive surgery - results of an interdisciplinary multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Advancing surgical techniques require a high level of adaptation and learning skills on the part of surgeons. The authors need selection procedures and decision support systems for the recruitment of medical students and young surgeons. The authors aimed to investigate factors influencing the surgical performance and learning abilities of surgeons and medical students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The training scores of persons attending 16 standardized training courses (at three training centers) of the German Working Group for Gynecological Endoscopy (AGE e.V.) from 2017 to 2020, individual characteristics, and the results of psychomotor tests of three-dimensional imagination and hand-eye coordination were correlated. Similar analyses were performed for medical students in their final clinical year from 2019 to 2020. The training concept was evaluated in a prospective, multicenter, interdisciplinary, multinational setting. RESULTS: In all, 180 of 206 physicians (response rate 87.4%) and 261 medical students (response rate 100%) completed the multistage training concept successfully. Of personal characteristics, the strongest correlation was noted for good surgical performance and learning success, and the absolute number of performed laparoscopic surgeries ( r =0.28-0.45, P <0.001/ r =0.1-0.28, P <0.05). A high score on the spatial visualization ability test was also correlated with good surgical performance ( r =0.18-0.27, P <0.01). Among medical students with no surgical experience, however, age was negatively correlated with surgical performance, that is the higher the age, the lower the surgical performance ( r =0.13/ r =0.22, P <0.05/ P <0.001). CONCLUSION: Individual factors (e.g. surgical experience, self-assessment, spatial visualization ability, eye-hand coordination, age) influence surgical performance and learning. Further research will be needed to create better decision support systems and selection procedures for prospective physicians. The possibilities of surgical training should be improved, promoted, and made accessible to a maximum number of surgical trainees because individual learning curves can be overcome even by less talented surgeons. Training options should be institutionalized for those attending medical school.

Appendiceal Endometriosis: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature.

Objective: the purpose of this review was to evaluate the prevalence of appendiceal endometriosis and the safety of concomitant appendectomy in women with endometriosis or pelvic pain. Materials and Methods: We searched the electronic databases Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science (WOS). The search was not subject to any limitation in terms of time or method. The primary research question was: what is the prevalence of appendiceal endometriosis? The secondary research question was: is it safe to perform appendectomy during surgery for endometriosis? Publications that reported data about appendiceal endometriosis or appendectomy in women with endometriosis were reviewed regarding the inclusion criteria. Results: We found 1418 records. After review and screening, we included 75 studies published between 1975 and 2021. With regard to the first question of the review, we found 65 eligible studies and divided these into the following two categories: (a) endometriosis of the appendix presenting as acute appendicitis, and (b) endometriosis of the appendix as an incidental finding in gynecological surgery. Forty-four case reports described appendiceal endometriosis in women who were admitted for the treatment of pain in the right-sided lower abdomen. Endometriosis of the appendix was observed in 2.67% (range, 0.36-23%) of women who were admitted due to acute appendicitis. In addition, appendiceal endometriosis was an incidental finding during gynecological surgery in 7.23% of cases (range, 1-44.3%). With regard to the second question of the review, which was the safety of appendectomy in women with endometriosis or pelvic pain, we found 11 eligible studies. Reviewed cases had no significant intraoperative or follow-up complications during the 12 weeks. Conclusion: Based on the reviewed studies, coincidental appendectomy appears reasonably safe and was associated with no complications in the cases reviewed for the present report.

Role of laparoscopic hysterectomy in cervical and endometrial cancer: a narrative review.

Endometrial cancer is the most common carcinoma of the female genital organs and cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. The aim of this review is to evaluate the role of laparoscopic hysterectomy in patients with endometrial and cervical cancer in this period, and analyze the outcome of hysterectomy in terms of survival. Moreover, we present the historical background, new techniques, the anatomical features, and surgical steps of radical hysterectomy. According to new evidence, minimally invasive surgery in patients with cervical cancer is associated with higher rates of recurrence and mortality compared to the open approach. Despite the numerous explanations offered for this phenomenon, the reasons for these results are unclear. Additional large trials have been launched to reevaluate the above-mentioned data. On contrary, the laparoscopic approach provides surgical outcomes and similar survival rates as open surgery in patients with early endometrial carcinoma. Furthermore, the radicality of hysterectomy does not influence local recurrence rates or overall survival in cases with complete surgical removal of the tumor. A laparoscopic radical hysterectomy is no longer an option in patients with cervical cancer. When minimally invasive surgery is offered, the patients must be counseled in detail about the current debate.

Impact of Adenomyosis on Infertile Patients-Therapy Options and Reproductive Outcomes.

Adenomyosis is associated with a negative impact on reproductive outcomes. Although adenomyosis is detected more frequently in women of late reproductive age, its impact on pregnancy rates is important because, in today's world, family planning has shifted towards the late reproductive phase of life for many women. Although the diagnostic indications for imaging studies are well-known, we lack strict diagnostic criteria and classification systems concerning the extent of the disease. Selecting the optimal evidence-based treatment option for adenomyosis is difficult because of the paucity of evidence concerning the association between fertility and the degree and composition of adenomyosis. Furthermore, the treatment of infertility might interfere with the treatment of adenomyosis due to the presence of pain. The aim of this review is to analyze the association between adenomyosis and infertility, and describe treatment options to enhance reproductive outcomes. The following aspects will be addressed in detail: (a) prevalence and causes of adenomyosis, (b) diagnostic tools with imaging techniques, (c) clinical symptoms, (d) proposed pathomechanism of adenomyosis and infertility, and (e) different treatment approaches (pharmacological, surgical, others) and their impact on reproductive outcomes.

Divergent Effects of Laser Irradiation on Ensembles of Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Bulk and Nanodiamonds: Implications for Biosensing.

Ensembles of negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy centers (NV-) in diamond have been proposed for sensing of magnetic fields and paramagnetic agents, and as a source of spin-order for the hyperpolarization of nuclei in magnetic resonance applications. To this end, strongly fluorescent nanodiamonds (NDs) represent promising materials, with large surface areas and dense ensembles of NV-. However, surface effects tend to favor the less useful neutral form, the NV0 centers, and strategies to increase the density of shallow NV- centers have been proposed, including irradiation with strong laser power (Gorrini in ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 13:43221-43232, 2021). Here, we study the fluorescence properties and optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of NV- centers as a function of laser power in strongly fluorescent bulk diamond and in nanodiamonds obtained by nanomilling of the native material. In bulk diamond, we find that increasing laser power increases ODMR contrast, consistent with a power-dependent increase in spin-polarization. Conversely, in nanodiamonds we observe a non-monotonic behavior, with a decrease in ODMR contrast at higher laser power. We hypothesize that this phenomenon may be ascribed to more efficient NV-→NV0 photoconversion in nanodiamonds compared to bulk diamond, resulting in depletion of the NV- pool. A similar behavior is shown for NDs internalized in macrophage cells under the typical experimental conditions of imaging bioassays. Our results suggest strong laser irradiation is not an effective strategy in NDs, where the interplay between surface effects and local microenvironment determine the optimal experimental conditions.

Robot-Assisted Tubal Reanastomosis after Sterilization: A Choice for Family Planning.

A variety of procedures have been used for family planning. One of these is sterilization surgery, which can be reversed by a tubal reanastomosis. In the present report, we compare Robot-assisted tubal reanastomosis sterilization with other methods of family planning and discuss factors related to the choice of the approach. The keywords used for the electronic search in PubMed were family planning, sterilization, Robot-assisted, tubal reanastomosis, depression, and regret. The decision in favor of or against sterilization surgery has been a sensitive issue for several years. Robot-assisted technology is a modern and precise approach. It has contributed to the flexibility of the decision between sterilization and its reversal through tubal reanastomosis, as well as enhanced the success rate of the surgery. Based on our analysis of the published literature, we believe that Robot-assisted tubal anastomosis is the optimum approach. However, to ensure the quality of health care, the surgeon must be well trained, well versed with the anatomy of the fallopian tubes, and thoroughly informed on the psychological impact of family planning.

Vaginal Microbiome in Reproductive Medicine.

The human microbiome has been given increasing importance in recent years. The establishment of sequencing-based technology has made it possible to identify a large number of bacterial species that were previously beyond the scope of culture-based technologies. Just as microbiome diagnostics has emerged as a major point of focus in science, reproductive medicine has developed into a subject of avid interest, particularly with regard to causal research and treatment options for implantation failure. Thus, the vaginal microbiome is discussed as a factor influencing infertility and a promising target for treatment options. The present review provides an overview of current research concerning the impact of the vaginal microbiome on the outcome of reproductive measures. A non-Lactobacillus-dominated microbiome was shown to be associated with dysbiosis, possibly even bacterial vaginosis. This imbalance has a negative impact on implantation rates in assisted reproductive technologies and may also be responsible for habitual abortions. Screening of the microbiome in conjunction with antibiotic and/or probiotic treatment appears to be one way of improving pregnancy outcomes.

Is Blastocyst Culture Responsible for Higher Pregnancy Rates? A Critical Analysis of the Day of Optimal Embryo Transfer and Embryo Quality.

OBJECTIVE: A prolonged culture of embryos beyond day 2-3 to day 5 (blastocyst culture) after fertilization might be an alternative, simple way of selecting suitable embryos for transfer. Extending embryo culture to day 5/6 is a selection tool to choose an embryo with a greater likelihood of implantation rather than improve embryo quality. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 1126 fresh IVF/ICSI cycles performed between February 1, 2014 and December 30, 2018 at the University Fertility Center in Kiel, Germany, to determine the impact of blastocyst culture on pregnancy rates and the association between embryo quality and pregnancy rates. RESULTS: Clinical pregnancy was achieved in 154 cases (19.5%) after day 2/3 transfer and in 76 cases (22.7%) after day 5 transfer. Pearson's two-sided chi-squared test yielded no statistical significance (p=0.221). The analysis of clinical pregnancy rates in relation to the quality of transferred embryos yielded the following results: 49 (10.7%) pregnancies in cases of no ideal embryo(s); 122 (27.2%) in cases of at least one ideal embryo; and 59 (26.7%) for both quality groups. Pearson's two-sided Chi-squared test was statistically significant (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data revealed no improvement of pregnancy rates after blastocyst transfer compared with day 2/3 transfers. However, we noted higher pregnancy rates when an embryo of good quality was transferred.

The pelvitrainer for training in laparoscopic surgery - A prospective, multicenter, interdisciplinary study: Experimental research.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgical procedures have a flat learning curve, especially in the initial period of a surgeon's training. Pelvitrainers enable the prospective surgeon to drill the surgical technique, including camera navigation, instrument manipulation, and the individual steps of the operation, on a model rather than a patient. Integrating the pelvitrainer into standardized surgical training programs is challenging, but would be essential to achieve optimum effects of long duration in surgical education. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The pelvitrainer Realsimulator 2.0 (Endodevelop) was evaluated in 16 standardized training courses (at three training centers) of the German Working Group for Gynecological Endoscopy (AGE e.V.) from 2017 to 2020, The training concept was implemented and evaluated in a prospective, multicenter, interdisciplinary, multinational setting. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty of 206 physicians (response rate 87.4%) completed the multi-stage training concept successfully. A significant (p < 0.001) objective improvement (positive learning curve) was observed for all exercises on the pelvitrainer. The trainer's subjective evaluation revealed positive ratings for design (median 82%, IQR 71-91%), camera navigation (87%, IQR 76-95%), and instrument manipulation (median 87%, IQR 77-94%). A follow-up survey performed six months after the course confirmed its sustainable and high benefits in clinical routine (median 82%, IQR 70-97%). CONCLUSION: The present investigation proved the high educational value of pelvitrainers, which can be enhanced by using a structured training concept. The benefit of training courses for health care justifies their incorporation into a standardized training curriculum. The completion of such training courses should be regarded as a prerequisite for a doctor to qualify as an independent surgeon.

Robotic surgery in gynecology: is the future already here?

Robotic-assisted surgery has gained widespread acceptance in the surgical community and appears to be the most rapidly developing sector of minimally invasive surgery. However, robotic surgery has been viewed as a development of, or alternative to, laparoscopic surgery and not necessarily as a superior technology. The advantages of MIS over open surgery apply to robotic-assisted surgery as well. Nevertheless, conflicting data have been published about the advantages and disadvantages of robotic-assisted and laparoscopic surgery. In the last few years, robotic-assisted surgery has been used for various gynecological procedures such as hysterectomy, lymphadenectomy, myomectomy, sacrocolpopexy or endometriosis operations. In the present review, we analyze the current use of robotic-assisted surgery and its efficiency in gynecology. Patient-based outcomes, such as quality of life and outcomes in morbidly obese patients are also addressed. The potential benefits of single-port robotic-assisted surgery are discussed. Most of the studies published so far state that robotic-assisted surgery does not essentially improve the surgical outcome compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery. However, randomized studies are scarce. Ongoing technological progress over the next few years may improve robotic-assisted techniques and thus optimize the patient's treatment.

Involvement of medical students in a surgery congress: impact on learning motivation, decision-making for a career in surgery, and educational curriculum.

During the preclinical period of medical school, the clinical relevance of theoretical knowledge is given little attention. Medical students of the second year were invited to participate in an interdisciplinary congress for robot-assisted and digital surgery. The students had to evaluate the impact of the congress on their learning motivation, decision-making for a career in surgery, and relevance for their educational curriculum. Participation in the congress increased their learning motivation for preclinical subjects, and significantly increased their interest in a surgical career. Most students considered active involvement in medical congresses a valuable supplement to the medical curriculum. Congress participation during the preclinical period was ranked positively by medical students. Greater learning motivation and enthusiasm for the pilot teaching project as well as for surgical disciplines were registered. Thus, early involvement of medical students in scientific congresses should be an integral part of their educational curriculum.

Video Feedback and Video Modeling in Teaching Laparoscopic Surgery: A Visionary Concept from Kiel.

Learning curves for endoscopic surgery are long and flat. Various techniques and methods are now available for surgical endoscopic training, such as pelvitrainers, virtual trainers, and body donor surgery. Video modeling and video feedback are commonly used in professional training. We report, for the first time, the application of video modeling and video feedback for endoscopic training in gynecology. The purpose is to present an innovative method of training. Attendees (residents and specialists) of minimally invasive surgery courses were asked to perform specific tasks, which were video recorded in a multimodular concept. Feedback was given later by an expert at a joint meeting. The attendees were asked to fill a questionnaire in order to assess video feedback given by the expert. The advantages of video feedback and video modeling for the development of surgical skills were given a high rating (median 84%, interquartile ranges (IQR) 72.5-97.5%, n = 37). The question as to whether the attendees would recommend such training was also answered very positively (median 100%, IQR 89.5-100%, n = 37). We noted a clear difference between subjective perception and objective feedback (58%, IQR 40.5-76%, n = 37). Video feedback and video modeling are easy to implement in surgical training setups, and help trainees at all levels of education.

Establishment and evaluation of a training course in advanced laparoscopic surgery based on human body donors embalmed by ethanol-glycerol-lysoformin fixation.

BACKGROUND: Education of clinical anatomy and training of surgical skills are essential prerequisites for any surgical intervention in patients. Here, we evaluated a structured training program for advanced gynecologic laparoscopy based on human body donors and its impact on clinical practice. METHODS: The three-step training course included: (1) anatomical and surgical lectures, (2) demonstration and hands-on study of pre-dissected anatomical specimens, and (3) surgical training of a broad spectrum of gynecological laparoscopic procedures on human body donors embalmed by ethanol-glycerin-lysoformin. Two standardized questionnaires (after the course and 6 months later) evaluated the effectiveness of each of the training modules and the benefits to surgical practice. RESULTS: Eighty participants took part in 6 training courses using a total number of 24 body donors (3 trainees/body donor). Based on a 91.3% (73/80) response rate, participants rated high or very high the tissue and organ properties of the body donors (n = 72, 98.6%), the technical feasibility to perform laparoscopic surgery (n = 70, 95.9%), and the overall learning success (n = 72, 98.6%). Based on a 67.5% (54/80) response rate at 6 months, participants rated the benefit of the course to their daily routine as very high (mean 80.94 ± 24.61%, n = 53), and this correlated strongly with the use of body donors (r = 0.74) and the ability to train laparoscopic dissections (r = 0.77). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the technical feasibility and didactic effectiveness of laparoscopic training courses in a professional and true-to-life setting by using ethanol-glycerol-lysoformin embalmed body donors. This cost-efficient fixation method offers the option to integrate advanced surgical training courses into structured postgraduate educational curricula to meet both the technical demands of minimal invasive surgery and the ethical concerns regarding patients´ safety.

Impact of Acoustic and Interactive Disruptive Factors during Robot-Assisted Surgery-A Virtual Surgical Training Model.

The use of virtual reality trainers for teaching minimally invasive surgical techniques has been established for a long time in conventional laparoscopy as well as robotic surgery. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of reproducible disruptive factors on the surgeon's work. In a cross-sectional investigation, surgeons were tested with regard to the impact of different disruptive factors when doing exercises on a robotic-surgery simulator (Mimic Flex VRTM). Additionally, we collected data about the participants' professional experience, gender, age, expertise in playing an instrument, and expertise in playing video games. The data were collected during DRUS 2019 (Symposium of the German Society for Robot-assisted Urology). Forty-two surgeons attending DRUS 2019 were asked to participate in a virtual robotic stress training unit. The surgeons worked in various specialties (visceral surgery, gynecology, and urology) and had different levels of expertise. The time taken to complete the exercise (TTCE), the final score (FSC), and blood loss (BL) were measured. In the basic exercise with an interactive disruption, TTCE was significantly longer (p < 0.01) and FSC significantly lower (p < 0.05). No significant difference in TTCE, FSC, or BL was noted in the advanced exercise with acoustic disruption. Performance during disruption was not dependent on the level of surgical experience, gender, age, expertise in playing an instrument, or playing video games. A positive correlation was registered between self-estimation and surgical experience. Interactive disruptions have a greater impact on the performance of a surgeon than acoustic ones. Disruption affects the performance of experienced as well as inexperienced surgeons. Disruption in daily surgery should be evaluated and minimized in the interest of the patient's safety.

Didactic Benefits of Surgery on Body Donors during Live Surgery Events in Minimally Invasive Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Live surgery events serve as a valuable tool for surgical education, but also raise ethical concerns about patient safety and professional performance. In the present study, we evaluate the technical feasibility and didactic benefits of live surgery on body donors compared to real patients. METHODS: A live surgery session performed on a body donor's cadaver embalmed in ethanol-glycerol-lysoformin was integrated into the live surgery program presented at a major gynecological convention of minimally invasive surgery. Surgical procedures carried out in real patients were paralleled in the body donor, including the dissection and illustration of surgically relevant anatomical landmarks. A standardized questionnaire was filled by the participants (n = 208) to evaluate the appropriateness, effectiveness, and benefits of this novel concept. RESULTS: The live surgery event was appreciated as a useful educational tool. With regard to the use of body donors, authenticity was rated high (85.5%), and the overall value of body donors for surgical education and training was rated very high (95.0%). The didactic benefit of simultaneous operations performed on body donors and real patients was considered particularly useful (95.5%), whereas complete replacement of real patients by body donors was not favored (14.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated both the technical feasibility and didactic benefits of performing minimally invasive surgery in body donors as part of live surgery events. This novel concept has the potential to enhance anatomical knowledge, providing insights into complex surgical procedures, and may serve to overcome yet unresolved ethical concerns related to live surgery events.

Efficient surface functionalization of detonation nanodiamond using ozone under ambient conditions.

Oxidative treatment is an important method for the purification and functionalization of carbon nanomaterials. Here we report on the treatment of detonation diamond particles with ozone at low temperatures. The homogeneous reaction in colloidal dispersion opens up a novel path for the efficient and homogeneous functionalization of the surface of nanodiamond with ozonides. As these are stable under the chosen ozonolysis conditions, they can be transformed to a number of different surface groups in subsequent oxidative or reductive workup steps. This versatile method for the preparation of oxygen-terminated diamond nanoparticles provides excellent control over the composition of the surface moieties in a waste-free and easy to set up way.

Educational training in laparoscopic gynecological surgery based on ethanol-glycerol-lysoformin-preserved body donors.

PURPOSE: Educational training of laparoscopic skills performed on body donors is considered the gold standard prior to surgery in living patients. Appropriate, safe, and feasible fixation of body donors, reflecting true-to-life conditions of tissues, is an essential prerequisite for training workshops. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here we describe and evaluate a modified ethanol-glycerol-lysoformin-based fixation technique. Body donors were fixed by perfusion (70% ethanol, 30% glycerol, 0.3% lysoformin; ca. 20l) via femoral artery and stored in a humid atmosphere (1% thymol) at 4°C. Technical equipment included a mobile operating table, endoscopy system with gas insufflation, suction/irrigation pump, standard and electrosurgical instruments. The tissue properties of ethanol-glycerol-lysoformin-fixed body donors and their suitability for laparoscopic surgery were tested and compared to the in vivo situation. RESULTS: Modified ethanol-glycerol-lysoformin fixation was a simple, cost-efficient and hazard-free procedure, resulting in near-to-life tissue conditions regarding consistency and flexibility, with moderate discoloration and greater viscosity of organs. Key laparoscopic procedures (trocar handling, pneumoperitoneum, blunt/sharp dissection, partial/total removal of organs, bi- or monopolar electrosurgery, suturing techniques) could be performed without difficulty. Multiple reuse of body donors was feasible over one year. Compared to the in vivo situation, the investigation of body donors required a greater degree of gas insufflation and more energy for electrosurgery. CONCLUSIONS: Modified ethanol-glycerol-lysoformin fixation applied to body donors permitted laparoscopic surgery in a realistic and practical manner. Due to its logistic advantages, this technique provides appropriate conditions to train laparoscopic skills and implement novel minimally invasive approaches.