Elif Bilgic1, Yusuke Watanabe2, Dmitry Nepomnayshy3, Aimee Gardner4, Shimae Fitzgibbons5, Iman Ghaderi6, Adnan Alseidi7, Dimitrios Stefanidis8, John Paige9, Neal Seymour10, Katherine M McKendy1, Richard Birkett3, James Whitledge11, Erica Kane10, Nicholas E Anton8, Melina C Vassiliou1. 1. Steinberg-Bernstein Centre for Minimally Invasive Surgery and Innovation, McGill University Health Centre, Canada. 2. Steinberg-Bernstein Centre for Minimally Invasive Surgery and Innovation, McGill University Health Centre, Canada; Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. 3. Department of General Surgery, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, USA. 4. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, USA. 5. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, USA. 6. University of Arizona, USA. 7. Virginia Mason Medical Center, USA. 8. Carolinas Health Care System, USA. 9. LSU Health New Orleans Health Sciences Center, USA. 10. Baystate Medical Center, USA. 11. Tufts University School of Medicine, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Advanced laparoscopic suturing (LS) tasks were developed based on a needs assessment. Initial validity evidence has been shown. The purpose of this multicenter study was to determine expert proficiency benchmarks for these tasks. METHODS: 6 tasks were included: needle handling (NH), offset-camera forehand suturing (OF), offset-camera backhand suturing (OB), confined space suturing (CF), suturing under tension (UT), and continuous suturing (CS). Minimally invasive surgeons experienced in LS completed the tasks twice. Mean time and median accuracy scores were used to establish the benchmarks. RESULTS: Seventeen MIS surgeons enrolled, from 7 academic centers. Mean (95% CI) time in seconds to complete each task was: NH 169 (149-189), OF 158 (134-181), OB 189 (154-224), CF 181 (156-205), UT 379 (334-423), and CS 416 (354-477). Very few errors in accuracy were made by experts in each of the tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Time- and accuracy-based proficiency benchmarks for 6 advanced LS tasks were established. These benchmarks will be included in an advanced laparoscopic surgery curriculum currently under development.
BACKGROUND: Advanced laparoscopic suturing (LS) tasks were developed based on a needs assessment. Initial validity evidence has been shown. The purpose of this multicenter study was to determine expert proficiency benchmarks for these tasks. METHODS: 6 tasks were included: needle handling (NH), offset-camera forehand suturing (OF), offset-camera backhand suturing (OB), confined space suturing (CF), suturing under tension (UT), and continuous suturing (CS). Minimally invasive surgeons experienced in LS completed the tasks twice. Mean time and median accuracy scores were used to establish the benchmarks. RESULTS: Seventeen MIS surgeons enrolled, from 7 academic centers. Mean (95% CI) time in seconds to complete each task was: NH 169 (149-189), OF 158 (134-181), OB 189 (154-224), CF 181 (156-205), UT 379 (334-423), and CS 416 (354-477). Very few errors in accuracy were made by experts in each of the tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Time- and accuracy-based proficiency benchmarks for 6 advanced LS tasks were established. These benchmarks will be included in an advanced laparoscopic surgery curriculum currently under development.