The transfer of basic skills learned in a laparoscopic simulator to the operating room

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether basic surgical skills achieved by training in LapSim, a computerbased laparoscopic simulator, could be transferred to the operating room. Methods: For this study, 24 medical students undergoing courses in surgery were randomly assigned to train with LapSim or to serve as control subjects. After they had undergone simulator training 2 h per week for 5 weeks, their basic skills in laparoscopic surgery were assessed in a porcine model. The time to perform each task was measured, and four senior surgeons independently graded the overall performance on a 9-step differential rating scale. Results: The participants randomized to train with LapSim showed significantly better results for all tasks in both parts of the study than the untrained participants, according to the expert evaluation. Time consumption was accordingly lower in the training group in the control group. Conclusions: The results show that basic skills achieved by systematic training with a laparoscopic simulator such as LapSim can be transferred to the operating room.