High-fidelity simulation-based team training in urology: evaluation of technical and nontechnical skills of urology residents during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.

Introduction: The use of low-risk simulation training for resident education is rapidly expanding as teaching centers integrate simulation-based team training (SBTT) sessions into their education curriculum. SBTT is a valuable tool in technical and communication skills training and assessment for residents. We created a unique SBTT scenario for urology residents involving a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy procedure.

Tracking and assessment of technical skills acquisition among urology residents for open, laparoscopic, and robotic skills over 4 years: is there a trend?

Background And Purpose: Tracking the progression of technical skill acquisition during urology residency training is an essential yet challenging task that has been mostly based on anecdotal and subjective performance assessment. We evaluated five surgical tasks used at our institution to assess skill acquisition among residents over 4 consecutive years in an effort to determine appropriate skill testing for resident proficiency relative to level of training for future performance testing.

Methods: Urology residents were tested yearly throughout the course of their residency with five surgical tasks in an open, laparoscopic, and robotic format.

Validation, correlation, and comparison of the da Vinci trainer(™) and the daVinci surgical skills simulator(™) using the Mimic(™) software for urologic robotic surgical education.

Purpose: Virtual reality simulators with self-assessment software may assist novice robotic surgeons to augment direct proctoring in robotic surgical skill acquisition. We compare and correlate the da Vinci Trainer™ (dVT) and da Vinci Surgical Skills Simulators (dVSSS) in subjects with varying robotic experience.

Materials And Methods: Students, urology residents, fellows, and practicing urologists with varying robotic experience were enrolled after local institutional review board approval.