Evaluating the Adequacy of YouTube Videos for Learning Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy With Complete Mesocolic Excision.

Aim:  Complete mesocolic excision (CME) is becoming an oncological surgical principle day by day for right hemicolectomy. However, the procedure is technically difficult and carries a higher risk of complications than open surgery. In this study, the adequacy of YouTube videos that facilitate education for laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with complete mesocolic excision (LRHCME) was investigated.

Methods: In July 2024, in the search bar of the YouTube platform, the term "laparoscopic right hemicolectomy complete mesocolic excision" was searched. The first 100 videos in each search were evaluated. Animations, advertisements, lectures, non-surgical videos (pre-surgery, post-surgery vlog, etc.), and non-English videos were excluded from the study. Steps identified in the Delphi consensus were used to determine the reliability of the videos. The quality of the videos was measured using the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and the modified DISCERN score.

Results: Seventy videos were included in the evaluation. While 28 (40%) of these videos were classified as reliable, 42 (60%) were not found reliable. In reliable videos, video description, HD resolution, GQS, modified DISCERN, and duration were significantly higher (p-value <0.001, 0.012, <0.001, <0.001, 0.041 respectively). Reliable videos had a better rank than unreliable videos (p=0.046).

Conclusion: When evaluated according to Delphi consensus, the most of LRHCME videos on the YouTube platform were unreliable. We conclude that YouTube alone is insufficient for learning LRHCME without a professional instructor.