Virtual Reality Training for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

University Hospital Basel

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Laparoscopy; Gallbladder; Bile Duct Injury; Medical Education; Virtual Reality

Treatments: Procedure: Conventional training; Procedure: Virtual Reality training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05169073

CU621

Details and patient eligibility

About

Cholecystectomy is one the most frequent laparoscopic procedures worldwide. It is a safe and effective operation but intraoperative bile duct injury remains a relevant complication with serious consequences for the patient. Most of the complications occur due to a lack of knowledge of the anatomy or misidentification of the cystic duct. Thus, the study of the anatomy is a cornerstone of a successful procedure and the preoperative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a way to preoperatively determine relevant structures to avoid intraoperative incidents.

This trial has been designed to assess the effect of preoperative virtual reality training based on MRCP on intraoperative performance and outcome.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 22 to 45 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Referred for elective cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholecystolithiasis/chronic cholecystitis
• Early cholecystectomy after acute biliary pancreatitis
• Concomitant minor procedures (adhesiolysis, umbilical hernia repair, liver biopsy)
• Sufficient quality of MRCP

Exclusion criteria

• American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) classification ≥ 4
• Previous major open upper abdominal surgery
• Suspicion for concomitant biliary disease (e.g. Mirizzi-Syndrome)
• Robotic cholecystectomy
• Planned open procedures

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

Virtual Reality MRCP

Experimental group

Description:

The MRCP images will be transferred into a 3D VR rendering software (Specto VR TM) for each patient. Residents will have the opportunity to use the virtual reality environment the day before surgery until a sufficient understanding of the anatomy is achieved.

Treatment:

Procedure: Virtual Reality training

Conventional MRCP

Active Comparator group

Description:

Controls will have regular access to the conventional MRCP images.

Treatment:

Procedure: Conventional training