Nikdokht Rashidian, MD1, Mariano Giglio, MD2, Vincenzo Scuderi, MD1, Francesca Tozzi, MD1, Aude Vanlander, MD1, Katharina D’herde, MD, PhD3, Adnan Alseidi4, Wouter Willaert, MD, PhD5, Roberto Ivan Troisi, MD, PhD2. 1Department of General, Hepato-Biliary and Liver Transplantation Surgery, Ghent University Hospital Medical School, Belgium, 2Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery Federico II University, Naples, Italy, 3Department of Anatomy, Embryology, Histology and Medical Physics, Ghent University Hospital Medical School, Belgium, 4Division of Pancreas, Liver and Biliary Surgery. Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle USA, 5Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital Medical School, Belgium
Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feedback of participants upon hands-on laparoscopic liver surgery course on Thiel human bodies and define ways to improve this type of training. Moreover, we attempted to identify the obstacles to implement laparoscopic liver surgery.
Methods: From 2010 to 2017, 10 laparoscopic liver surgery masterclasses have been organized in a hepatobiliary department. During the first day, state of art lectures, technical tips and different topics in laparoscopic liver surgery were given and debated. Live streaming interventions were planned and discussed interactively in the boardroom. Additionally, a video session was carefully prepared to show different approaches to the liver for different indications. On the second day, the participants were able to develop their skills with a hands-on training on Thiel human bodies under the proctorship of international experts. A 23-question anonymous survey was electronically sent to 119 participants between November 2017 and January 2018, exploring their characteristics and asking for evaluation of the course.
Result: Sixty-four surgeons (53.8%) responded to the survey; 42 (65.6%) were employed at a university hospital; 39 (60.9%) were in the first decade of their practice as a consultant surgeon. Forty-three (67.2%) surgeons reported an increased percentage of LLS cases afterward. Training on Thiel cadavers was considered superior (49.2%) to other training options including proctoring in operating room (34.9%), simulators (6.3%), video training (4.8%) and training on pigs (4.8%). Obstacles identified contained inadequate training, patient’s referral pattern, financial issues, lack of dedicated surgical team and time constrains.
Discussion: This survey revealed that a structured short-time program incorporating interactive discussion, live operations and hands-on training on bodies under proctorship may enhance efficient training in laparoscopic liver surgery and offer an effective solution to implement the limits of the training, and eventually promotes its distribution. Practicing on Thiel human bodies seems to be a promising option amongst all available educational models and could be improved by using re-perfused Thiel human bodies. In a step forward for upcoming courses the importance of team building has to be addressed.
Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.
Abstract ID: 93379
Program Number: P388
Presentation Session: Poster Session (Non CME)
Presentation Type: Poster