Neurosurgical simulator for training aneurysm microsurgery-a user suitability study involving neurosurgeons and residents.

Joseph, Fredrick Johnson; Weber, Stefan; Raabe, Andreas; Bervini, David (2020). Neurosurgical simulator for training aneurysm microsurgery-a user suitability study involving neurosurgeons and residents. Acta neurochirurgica, 162(10), pp. 2313-2321. Springer Vienna 10.1007/s00701-020-04522-3

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BACKGROUND

Due to its complexity and to existing treatment alternatives, exposure to intracranial aneurysm microsurgery at the time of neurosurgical residency is limited. The current state of the art includes training methods like assisting in surgeries, operating under supervision, and video training. These approaches are labor-intensive and difficult to fit into a timetable limited by the new work regulations. Existing virtual reality (VR)-based training modules lack patient-specific exercises and haptic properties and are thus inferior to hands-on training sessions and exposure to real surgical procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We developed a physical simulator able to reproduce the experience of clipping an intracranial aneurysm based on a patient-specific 3D-printed model of the skull, brain, and arteries. The simulator is made of materials that not only imitate tissue properties including arterial wall patency, thickness, and elasticity but also able to recreate a pulsatile blood flow. A sample group of 25 neurosurgeons and residents (n = 16: early residency with less than 4 years of neurosurgical exposure; n = 9: late residency and board-certified neurosurgeons, 4-15 years of neurosurgical exposure) took part to the study. Participants evaluated the simulator and were asked to answer questions about surgical simulation anatomy, realism, haptics, tactility, and general usage, scored on a 5-point Likert scale. In order to evaluate the feasibility of a future validation study on the role of the simulator in neurosurgical postgraduate training, an expert neurosurgeon assessed participants' clipping performance and a comparison between groups was done.

RESULTS

The proposed simulator is reliable and potentially useful for training neurosurgical residents and board-certified neurosurgeons. A large majority of participants (84%) found it a better alternative than conventional neurosurgical training methods.

CONCLUSION

The integration of a new surgical simulator including blood circulation and pulsatility should be considered as part of the future armamentarium of postgraduate education aimed to ensure high training standards for current and future generations of neurosurgeons involved in intracranial aneurysm surgery.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

10 Strategic Research Centers > ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Head Organs and Neurology (DKNS) > Clinic of Neurosurgery
10 Strategic Research Centers > ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research > ARTORG Center - Image Guided Therapy

UniBE Contributor:

Joseph, Fredrick Johnson, Weber, Stefan (B), Raabe, Andreas, Bervini, David

Subjects:

500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0001-6268

Publisher:

Springer Vienna

Language:

English

Submitter:

Nicole Söll

Date Deposited:

09 Oct 2020 13:50

Last Modified:

29 Mar 2023 23:37

Publisher DOI:

10.1007/s00701-020-04522-3

PubMed ID:

32780255

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Intracranial aneurysm Microsurgery Neurosurgery Resident training Surgical education Surgical simulation

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.146895

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/146895

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