Characterizing and Simulating Needle Insertion Forces for Percutaneous Renal Access.

Background: Percutaneous needle access is a critical step of performing percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Development of a synthetic model that accurately represents the forces encountered while gaining percutaneous renal access, allows for high ease of use and prevention of negative skill transfer. The objectives of this study were to define the needle insertion forces used during percutaneous renal access and to develop a multilayer synthetic physical simulator model based on human tissue data that is compatible with the SimPORTAL fluoro-less C-arm trainer (CAT) camera system.

Feasibility of a perfused and ventilated cadaveric model for assessment of lifesaving traumatic hemorrhage and airway management skills.

Background: Training health care providers to manage common life-threatening traumatic injuries is an important endeavor. A fresh perfused cadaveric model with high anatomic and tissue fidelity was developed to assess performance of hemorrhage and airway management skills during a simulated polytrauma scenario.

Methods: Fresh human cadavers were obtained within 96 hours of death.

Preliminary evaluation of the SimPORTAL major vessel injury (MVI) repair model.

Background: Major vessel injury (MVI) is a dangerous complication associated with laparoscopic surgery that leads, if not properly handled, to blood loss, conversion to open surgery, and eventually death. In this paper, we describe the preliminary evaluation of the SimPORTAL MVI model, created with the goal of simulating an intra-corporeal injury to a large vessel.

Methods: For this study, we created MVI models for 17 residents (PGY 1-4).

Multi-Institutional Validation of an OSATS for the Assessment of Cystoscopic and Ureteroscopic Skills.

Purpose: We evaluated the internal and construct validity of an assessment tool for cystoscopic and ureteroscopic cognitive and psychomotor skills at a multi-institutional level.

Materials And Methods: Subjects included a total of 30 urology residents at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. A single external blinded reviewer evaluated cognitive and psychomotor skills associated with cystoscopic and ureteroscopic surgery using high fidelity bench models.

Validity and acceptability of a high-fidelity physical simulation model for training of laparoscopic pyeloplasty.

Purpose: The objective was to determine the acceptability and preliminary construct validity for a high-fidelity synthetic renal pelvis/ureter tissue analogue model for use as a simulation model for training of laparoscopic pyeloplasty.

Materials And Methods: The pyeloplasty model was designed with incorporated assessment lines for use in post-task Black Light Assessment of Surgical Technique (BLAST)™. Practicing urologists participating in the 2011 and 2012 American Urological Association Mentored Renal Laparoscopy courses performed a simulated laparoscopic pyeloplasty procedure and completed a post-task evaluation of the model.

Validation study of a computer-based open surgical trainer: SimPraxis(®) simulation platform.

Background: Technological advances have dramatically changed medical education, particularly in the era of work-hour restrictions, which increasingly highlights a need for novel methods to teach surgical skills. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of a novel, computer-based, interactive, cognitive simulator for training surgeons to perform pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND).

Methods: Eight prostate cancer experts evaluated the content of the simulator.

Introduction and validation of the American Urological Association Basic Laparoscopic Urologic Surgery skills curriculum.

Background And Purpose: The Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS(™)) skills curriculum has validity evidence supporting use for assessing laparoscopic skills for general surgeons. As charged by the American Urological Association (AUA) Laparoscopy, Robotic, and New Surgical Technology Committee, we sought to develop and validate a urology-specific FLS, referred to as the Basic Laparoscopic Urologic Surgery (BLUS(©)) skills curriculum. The psychomotor component consists of three existing FLS tasks and one new clip-applying task.