The assessment of stability and reliability of a virtual reality-based laparoscopic gynecology simulation system

Purpose of investigation: Surgeons require practiced skills in laparoscopic surgery. A virtual reality-based simulator system was developed for extensive training. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of a virtual reality-based laparoscopic gynecology simulation system.

Methods: Laparoscopic tools and three-dimensional virtual environments were included in the simulation system. Ten healthy, non-disabled volunteers were recruited. The surgical procedure is a process of tubal sterilization by cauterization. Volunteers followed the training procedure, 15 trials in the first test and retest, respectively.

Results: Stable performances were obtained after about seven trials for all subjects. The intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.935 and 0.425 for task time and error frequency, respectively.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the system is stable and has a fair high test-retest reliability. Therefore, the VR-based laparoscopic gynecology system is feasible.

Virtual reality; Laparoscopic gynecology

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