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. 2024 Dec 2;24(1):1408.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-06346-6.

Contribution of simulation in paediatric laparoscopic surgery: improving suturing skills before performing a laparoscopic procedure in children

Valeska Bidault-Jourdainne  1   2   3 , Jean Breaud  4 , Liza Ali  5   6 , Isabelle Talon  7 , François Becmeur  7 , Alaa El Ghoneimi  5   6 , Matthieu Peycelon  5   6
Affiliations

Contribution of simulation in paediatric laparoscopic surgery: improving suturing skills before performing a laparoscopic procedure in children

Valeska Bidault-Jourdainne et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Introduction: Mastering paediatric laparoscopic surgery competency (PLSC) is technically challenging. The present study aimed to determine whether the inter-academic PLSC degree (IAD_PLSC) practical training program enables trainees to improve their skills.

Methods: This retrospective study included trainees enrolled in the IAD_PLSC program in 2021 and 2022 which included two separate 12 h-sessions. Trainees practiced to perform intracorporeal laparoscopic knots (ILK) using 5- and 3-mm instruments on a pelvi-trainer simulator; Peg Transfer (PT) was used as a dexterity test; final marks added the adapted Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) score (out of 40) and time to complete ILK. ILK was considered a success in case the OSATS score > 27/40.

Results: A total of 43 trainees completed the IAD_PLSC program. N = 37 (86.0%) mastered the ILK (OSATS score > 27/40) using 5-mm instruments at the end of session 1 and N = 33 (76.7%) at the end of session 2 (p = 0.41). There was no significant improvement in the median [interquartile range, IQR] OSATS score (32 [30-36] vs. 32 [28-34], p = 0.19), but the median [IQR] knot completion time improved significantly (184 s [161-268] vs. 166 s [128-218], p = 0.002). There was a significant correlation between the knot completion time and PT time at the end of session 1 (ρ = 0.58, 95% confidence interval, CI [0.31;0.76], p < 0.0002) and session 2 (ρ = 0.78, 95%CI [0.62;0.87], p < 0.0001). When using 3-mm instruments, N = 34 (79.1%) of trainees mastered the ILK at the end of session 2. The median [IQR] OSATS score significantly improved between the end of the two sessions (22 [21-24] vs. 31 [28-33], p < 0.0001), but there was no significant correlation between OSATS score or knot completion time and PT time, at the end of both sessions.

Conclusion: A nation-wide training program in paediatric laparoscopic surgery provides valuable practical training of intracorporeal suturing for residents in pediatric surgery and urology.

Keywords: Education; Hands-on training; Laparoscopy; OSATS; Paediatric surgery; Paediatric urology; Simulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All participants consent to participate and study approval was obtained from university ethical committee (IRB 00006477_2023-651ter). Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
OSATS score adapted for intracorporeal laparoscopic sutures
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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