Teaching Advanced Surgical Technique Using Peer-Reviewed Multimedia: An Assessment of Technical Competence in Cadaveric-Based Simulation
Abstract
Nerve-sparing Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) is a complex and rare surgical procedure where trainees have limited exposure. We have created facilitator-led video learning material to teach this procedure. Ten urology trainees were tasked with performing one-half (unilateral portion) of a nerve-sparing RPLND on human cadavers before and after watching the video material. Their surgical performance was assessed quantitatively and video-recorded for further qualitative assessment by a blinded expert surgeon.
All measurements showed significant improvement after the exposure to the intervention. This included the percentage of lymph node mass resected, mean total OSATS global rating and procedure-specific scales as well as mean self-assessment scores. The results suggested that a significant amount of possible surgical performance improvement can come from the opportunity to participate in the video learning material and cadaveric simulation. We expect this model to be successfully applied to teaching complex and rare procedures in other fields as well.