A Surgical Virtual Reality Simulator Distinguishes Between Expert Gynecologic Laparoscopic Surgeons and Perinatologists

BACKGROUND Concern regarding the quality of surgical training in obstetrics and gynecology residency programs is focusing attention on competency based education. Because open surgical skills cannot necessarily be translated into laparoscopic skills and with minimally invasive surgery becoming standard in operative gynecology, the discrepancy in training between obstetrics and gynecology will widen. Training on surgical simulators with virtual reality may improve surgical skills. However, before incorporation into training programs for gynecology residents the validity of such instruments needs to first be established. We sought to prove the construct validity of a virtual reality laparoscopic simulator, the SurgicalSim(TM), by showing its ability to distinguish between surgeons with different laparoscopic experience. METHODS Eleven gynecologic surgeons (experts) and 11 perinatologists (controls) completed 3 tasks on the simulator, and 10 performance parameters were compared. RESULTS The experts performed faster, more efficiently, and with fewer errors, proving the construct validity of the SurgicalSim. CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic virtual reality simulators can measure relevant surgical skills and so distinguish between subjects having different skill levels. Hence, these simulators could be integrated into gynecology resident endoscopic training and utilized for objective assessment. Second, the skills required for competency in obstetrics cannot necessarily be utilized for better performance in laparoscopic gynecology.