Abstract

Objective: This study systematically reviews the literature on laparoscopic surgery simulation trainers, to identify common design elements and discuss their applicability to laser laparoscopic surgical training.

Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, and IEEE Xplore was conducted for relevant articles, published before July 2023. We reviewed 3609 studies. Primary research articles describing the design and construction of a laparoscopic trainer were included. Studies were excluded if they did not describe simulator construction or described virtual reality or animal training models.

Results: A total of 22 studies met the inclusion criteria, describing 24 laparoscopic trainers. Data were extracted by two independent authors. Most trainers were made from plastic (n = 16) and wood (n = 3), were rectangular in shape (n = 17), with a closed air-permissible design (n = 19). Sixteen trainers used a webcam as the camera, and most (n = 15) were fixed in place. Most trainers included two to four ports (n = 16), and most ports were constructed with commonly available materials [holes drilled directly into the outer wall (n = 6), rubber grommets (n = 5), or felt or plastic overlay (n = 4)]. Thirteen studies included an assessment of their laparoscopic trainer, most commonly reporting on content, construct, and face validity. Overall, the trainers were highly regarded and deemed useful tools for developing laparoscopic skills.

Conclusion: There is heterogeneity in the design of laparoscopic trainers, the materials used, and trainers’ airtight properties. No trainer was specifically designed to simulate laser laparoscopy. Adaptations must be made to current common design elements for use in this setting.