Impact of laparoscopy simulator training on the technical skills of future surgeons in the operating room: a prospective study.

Background: The efficacy of laparoscopy simulators remains controversial.

Methods: This was a comparative prospective study that evaluated the impact of simulator training on technical competence during a real surgical procedure. Residents were divided into 3 groups: the Mcgill Inanimate System for Training and Evaluation of Laparoscopic Skills (MISTELS) group, training on a simple simulator; LAP Mentor group, training on a virtual simulator; and control group.