MIS simulator for maximum global impact

Team Leader

Christopher Chung

Project Overview

Project Name:

One-line project summary:

A low cost, easy to build simulator to achieve and maintain both basic and advanced laparoscopic skills in low resource, low volume settings

Pitch your project.

The traditional method of obtaining technical skills in surgery is not always applicable in minimally invasive surgery since trainees are often unable to see the surgeons hands, the instruments or the screen throughout the procedure. The acquisition of MIS surgical skills can be more efficiently achieved outside of a live operating room.

Our project facilitates both basic (dry box) and advanced (advanced model) laparoscopic training in a hybrid video box/organic simulator.

Our model is intended to be a force multiplier, promoting instruction in a "train the trainer" fashion where education, observation, imitation, deliberate practice and repetition, and feedback results in individual expertise but also in enhanced competency within the team both as clinicians and as trainers themselves.

The assessment tools employed will depend on the stage of development of the trainee and will include validated tools eg MISTELS , and self and mentor assessed recordings of the activities undertaken.

What is your surgical training module?

Our model is a low cost, easy to build laparoscopic simulator on which trainees will to required to proceed in a stepwise manner through various tasks having viewed the provided material (written or video or website).

The simulator is constructed of readily available, locally acquired material, with carefully illustrated instructions, with wired or wireless connectivity depending on availability and bandwidth. Trainees instruction will proceed through the dry box, advanced model and procedure specific phases as competency is acquired.

Self assessment in the form of validated tools and offline review of recordings as well as realtime/online assessment by colleagues and mentors will provide feedback on progress.

What specific surgical skills are you teaching?

Laparoscopic simulator laboratories and training is expensive and elusive in LMICs. The benefits of minimally invasive surgery over open surgery is well documented, however, and mandates the development of these skills even in low resource and/or low volume settings.

Our model is designed for step-by-step learning of basic to advanced skills in laparoscopic surgery including:

Basic Laparoscopic orientation
Hand to eye coordination in Laparoscopy
Economy of movement
Expertise in triangulation
Creation and Use of Endoloop
Use of Staplers
Use of clips
Running the Small Bowel
Practice of Bowel anastomosis

Who does your project serve, and in what ways will the project improve their skills?

The project serves to impart and enhance the full range of laparoscopic skills to residents and specialists in General Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Urology and Gynaecology. It will also be of great use to older specialists who are looking to introduce Laparoscopy in their practice.

A prototype was piloted during a local laparoscopic training course and feedback was obtained from faculty, facilitators and participants. The model was well received and feedback is currently being used to refine various aspects of the project.

In what city, town, or region is your project team headquartered?

Georgetown, Guyana

What is your project's stage of development?

Prototype: A venture or organization building and testing its product, service, or business model. If for-profit, a new company that has raised little or no institutional capital (less than $500,000) in pre-seed fundraising.

Who is on your team?

Christopher Chung: Team Leader/General Surgeon/Educator

Hemraj Ramcharran: General and Laparoscopic surgeon

Sean Smith: Educator/Technical expert

Adhikar Ramjoo: General Surgeon/Technical expert

Marisa Seepersaud: Paediatric Surgeon

Zoilo Augusto Placeres Leon: General and Thoracic surgeon

Fiaz Hassan: Clinician/Surgical Resident

Who can join your team?

Software Engineer

Web designer

Medical Illustrator