Use of simulators in video laparoscopic surgery in medical training: a prospective court study with medicine academic at a university in Southern Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: the onset of minimally invasive surgery, such as laparoscopic surgery, was accompanied by an increased frequency of complications, many of which were life-threatening. With the objective of minimizing morbidity and mortality and accelerating the learning curve, video laparoscopic surgery simulators were developed to improve the psychomotor skills required for these procedures. OBJECTIVE: to compare the performance of second year medical students of the Lutheran University of Brazil, in simulated videolaparoscopic surgeries performed at the Realistic Simulation Center of the Faculty of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre. METHOD: prospective cohort study with 16 medical students with no prior experience in video-surgery simulation. The students performed simulated exercises and were evaluated regarding Coordination, Navigation by Instrument and Time in the accomplishment of the procedures. RESULTS: the sample consisted of 69% women and 31% men with a mean age of 23.2 years. The students obtained better results in the second simulation application. The skill in Navigation by Instrument task was the one that showed the best evolution in the studied group. The Total Time in the accomplishment of the procedures was the parameter with greater difference between the successive simulations. CONCLUSION: medical students presented a significant improvement in their performance with the repetition of the simulation exercises, demonstrating that the Laparoscopic Surgery Simulators are a promising tool in medical training and development of surgical skills.

Use of simulators in video laparoscopic surgery in medical training: a prospective court study with medicine academic at a university in Southern Brazil / Uso de simuladores em cirurgia videolaparoscópica na formação médica: estudo prospectivo de coorte com acadêmicos de medicina de uma universidade no Sul do Brasil

ABSTRACT Introduction: the onset of minimally invasive surgery, such as laparoscopic surgery, was accompanied by an increased frequency of complications, many of which were life-threatening. With the objective of minimizing morbidity and mortality and accelerating the learning curve, video laparoscopic surgery simulators were developed to improve the psychomotor skills required for these procedures. Objective: to compare the performance of second year medical students of the Lutheran University of Brazil, in simulated videolaparoscopic surgeries performed at the Realistic Simulation Center of the Faculty of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre. Method: prospective cohort study with 16 medical students with no prior experience in video-surgery simulation. The students performed simulated exercises and were evaluated regarding Coordination, Navigation by Instrument and Time in the accomplishment of the procedures. Results: the sample consisted of 69% women and 31% men with a mean age of 23.2 years. The students obtained better results in the second simulation application. The skill in Navigation by Instrument task was the one that showed the best evolution in the studied group. The Total Time in the accomplishment of the procedures was the parameter with greater difference between the successive simulations. Conclusion: medical students presented a significant improvement in their performance with the repetition of the simulation exercises, demonstrating that the Laparoscopic Surgery Simulators are a promising tool in medical training and development of surgical skills.

RESUMO Introdução: o início da cirurgia minimamente invasiva, como a cirurgia laparoscópica, foi acompanhado por frequência aumentada de complicações, muitas com risco de morte. Com o objetivo de minimizar a morbidade e mortalidade e acelerar a curva de aprendizado, foram desenvolvidos simuladores de cirurgia videolaparoscópica para aprimoramento de habilidades psicomotoras necessárias nestes procedimentos. Objetivo: comparar o desempenho de acadêmicos do segundo ano de medicina da Universidade Luterana do Brasil, na realização de cirurgias videolaparoscópicas simuladas, feitas no Centro de Simulação Realística da Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre. Método: estudo prospectivo de coorte com 16 alunos de Medicina sem experiência prévia em simulação de vídeocirurgia. Os alunos realizaram exercícios simulados e foram avaliados quanto a Coordenação, Navegação por Instrumento e Tempo na Realização dos Procedimentos. Resultados: a amostra foi composta por 69% de mulheres e 31% de homens com média de idade de 23,2 anos. Os acadêmicos obtiveram melhora dos resultados na segunda aplicação da simulação. A habilidade na tarefa Navegação por Instrumento foi a que teve melhor evolução no grupo de alunos avaliados. O Tempo Total na realização dos procedimentos foi o parâmetro com maior diferença entre as simulações sucessivas. Conclusão: os acadêmicos de Medicina apresentaram expressiva melhora de desempenhos com a repetição dos exercícios de simulação, demonstrando que os Simuladores de Cirurgia Videolaparoscópica são ferramentas promissoras no treinamento de habilidades cirúrgicas na formação médica.