[Effects of surgical simulation on the implementation of laparoscopic colorectal procedures]

Introduction: Advanced laparoscopic surgery requires supplementary training outside the operating room. Clinical simulation with animal models or cadavers facilitates this learning.

Objective: We measured the impact on clinical practice of a laparoscopic colorectal resection training program based on surgical simulation.

Material and methods: Between March 2007 and March 2012, 163 surgeons participated in 30 courses that lasted 4 days, of 35 hours (18 h in the operating room, 12h in animal models, and 4h in seminars). In May 2012, participants were asked via an on-line survey about the degree of implementation of the techniques in their day-to-day work.

Results: Seventy surgeons (47%) from 60 different hospitals answered the survey. Average time elapsed after the course was 11.5 months (2-60 months). A total of 75% initiated or increased the number of surgeries performed after the training. The increase in practice was>10 cases/month in 19%, and<5 cases/month in 56% of surgeons. 38% of participants initiated this surgical approach.

Conclusions: Seventy five percent of the surveyed surgeons increased the clinical implementation of a complicated surgical technique, such as laparoscopic colorectal surgery, after attending a training course based on clinical simulation.