Acquisition of skills in videolaparoscopic surgery by residents in general surgery after training in a high fidelity simulator

AIMS: To observe the acquisition of skills in videolaparoscopic surgery in a group of residents of general surgery, after training in a high fidelity simulator. METHODS: Case series with a qualitative, descriptive and applied approach. The participants were residents of general surgery who had already completed the surgical techniques module and accomplished the training in a high-fidelity simulator of videolaparoscopy. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire applied to the residents after the training and interviews with the preceptors surgeons, recorded between one year and a year and a half after the training, when the residents were already performing the procedure in real patients. RESULTS: According to the inclusion criteria, the responses of seven general surgery residents were analyzed. After simulator training, they reported to have acquired skills in videolaparoscopic procedures. Two among the interviewed residents mentioned that they have had difficulties in performing the tasks due to the high sensitivity required by the simulator in some procedures. The "Six-Steps" methodology used during simulator training was well accepted by the residents. The importance of the presence of a tutor during the use of the simulator was pointed out. The videolaparoscopic surgery preceptors reported that skills acquired by the residents after training in the high-fidelity simulator were transferred to the same procedure in real patients. CONCLUSIONS: The present study allows to conclude that, according to the technical perception and criticals of residents and preceptors of the medical residency program in general surgery, the standardized training using the high-fidelity videolaparoscopic surgery simulator has proved to be effective for skills acquisition by this group of residents, including future surgical procedures in real patients.