Virtual reality training leads to faster adaptation to the novel psychomotor restrictions encountered by laparoscopic surgeons

Abstract

Background: The fulcrum effect of the body wall on instrument handling poses a major obstacle to the mastery of instrument coordination for junior laparoscopic surgeons. This study evaluated three types of laparoscopic simulator training to assess their ability to promote the user's adaptation to the fulcrum effect. Methods: Thirty-two participants with no previous experience in laparoscopic surgery were randomly assigned to one of four groups representing different training conditions. One group was assigned to use a virtual reality simulator (MIST VR); two others were given a laparoscopic Z or U maze-tracking task. The control group received no training. Subjects were asked to perform a 2-min laparoscopic cutting task under normal laparoscopic imaging conditions first before and then after training. Results: In the test trial, subjects who trained on MIST VR made significantly more correct incisions (p <0.0001) and fewer incorrect incisions (p <0.0001). Conclusion: Training on a virtual reality simulator such as MIST VR helps laparoscopic novices adapt to the fulcrum effect faster.