First Author: A.Zemitis LATVIA
Co Author(s):
Purpose:
Learning a new kind of medical procedure can be a difficult task for the new and aspiring medical resident as also a experienced surgeon. Nerve wrecking as it can be, learning to do a perfectly round capsulorhexis on a live patient can lead to risks of damaging the soft tissue. ThatÂ’s one of the reasons why we wanted to try and find a safe way for teaching the fundamentals of a safe capsulorhexis, being available to all levels of skill.
Setting:
We used the EyeSi Cataract Simulator to judge the acquired skill of residents, that have never before tried a capsulorhexis on a live patient and a group of experienced surgeons, with at least 5 years under their belt. Both groups were later reviewed by a sum of scores and the improvement of their results.
Methods:
We had to use similar terms to evaluate the progress of both groups, both were given similar exercises. We used simulations of capsulorhexis in the fallowing order - hard capsule without guiding elements, soft capsule with guiding elements, medium capsule with guiding elements, hard capsule with guiding elements and hard capsule without guiding elements to evaluate the progress of each participant. Each subject could choose their own preferred method of starting the capsulorhexis. After their practice session, we would evaluate each member of the group based on the scores they got. 3 surgeons and 8 residents were studied in the trail.
Results:
The results provided in the trial supported our thesis, that it is much easier to learn the basis of capsulorhexis in a simulated environment, then on live patients. We compared the hard capsule without guiding elements and got positive results of improvement. If we compare the scores of the results the average improvement of the residents was 14,68 % with only one of the residents showing lower scores at the end of his practice session, then his colleagues. The test group of doctors had very similar scores at the start of the exercise (66,3-+5 was the average score of their 3 exercises at the start) They showed an improvement of 8.8% at the end of the practice session (all improved to 75,2-+ 2).
Conclusions:
If we take a hard look at the results, the group of residents had more success in using the EyeSi cataract simulator, then the certified surgeons. While it gave them more room for error and confidence to act without repercussions of serious malpractice, they improved much faster then their experienced counterparts. In conclusion the EyeSi cataract simulator was a great improvement to the skills of the end user. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE?: No
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