Even short-term training improves the skills of novice exoscope users: a prospective laboratory experiment

• DOI: 10.1007/s00701-024-05975-6
• Publication Date: 2024-03-01T09:02:18Z
• Authors: Ville Vasankari; Ahmad Hafez; Anni Pohjola; Anna Maria Auricchio; Francesco Calvanese; Tobias Rossmann; Michael Veldeman; Ines Badic; Eliisa Netti; Ilari Rautalin; Ville Nurminen; Rahul Raj; Mika Niemelä; Martin Lehecka
• Keywords: Microsurgery; Microscopy; Bypass; Neurosurgery; Neurosciences; Surgery, anesthesiology, intensive care, radiology; Neurosurgical Procedures; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Microscope; Microvascular anastomosis; Suturing; Humans; Original Article; Exoscope; Prospective Studies

Abstract Background The surgical 3D exoscopes have recently been introduced as an alternative to the microscopes in microneurosurgery. Since exoscope availability is still limited, it relevant know whether even a short-term training develops skills needed for performing exoscope-assisted surgeries. Methods Ten participants (six consultants, four residents) performed two laboratory bypass test tasks with (Aesculap Aeos®). Six sessions (6 h) were between (interval of 2–5 weeks) on artificial models. divided into groups: group ( n = 6) trained and control 4) microscope. task was end-to-side microsurgical anastomosis model, using 12 interrupted 9–0 sutures recorded video. We compared individual well performance among subjects based suturing time, quality, manual dexterity. Results Altogether, 20 (baseline 10, follow-up 10). median duration decreased by 28 min 44% group. decrease steeper (29 min, 45%) less than 6 years microneurosurgery experience more experienced (13 24%). After training, at least 1-year did not improve their duration. led greater time reduction microscope (44% vs 17%). Conclusions Even marked improvements novice microneurosurgeons. For participants, plateau initial learning curve reached quickly. A much longer-term effort might be witness further improvement this user