The development of visuospatial abilities and their impact on laparoscopic skill acquisition: a clinical longitudinal study

Tina Vajsbaher; Holger Schultheis; Sonja Janssen; Dirk Weyhe; Hüseyin Bektas; Verena Uslar; Nader Francis

doi:10.1007/s00464-022-09328-1

The development of visuospatial abilities and their impact on laparoscopic skill acquisition: a clinical longitudinal study

Surg Endosc. 2022 Dec;36(12):8908-8917. doi: 10.1007/s00464-022-09328-1. Epub 2022 May 31.

Authors

Tina Vajsbaher^{1

2}, Holger Schultheis^{3

4}, Sonja Janssen⁵, Dirk Weyhe⁵, Hüseyin Bektas⁶, Verena Uslar⁵, Nader Francis^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Bremen Spatial Cognition Center, University of Bremen, Enrique-Schmidt-Straße 5, 28359, Bremen, Germany. tina.vajsbaher@gmail.com.
² Faculty for Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany. tina.vajsbaher@gmail.com.
³ Bremen Spatial Cognition Center, University of Bremen, Enrique-Schmidt-Straße 5, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
⁴ Institute for Artificial Intelligence, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
⁵ University Hospital for Visceral Surgery, Pius-Hospital Oldenburg, Carl Von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.
⁶ Department for General, Visceral-and-Surgical Oncology, Klinikum Bremen-Mitte, Germany.
⁷ Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, UK.
⁸ The Griffin Institute, Northwick Park and St Mark's Hospital, Y Block, Watford Road, Harrow, HA1 3UJ, Middlesex, UK.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate how visuospatial abilities develop and influence intraoperative laparoscopic performance during surgical residency training programmes.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery is a challenging technique to acquire and master. Visuospatial ability is an important attribute but most prior research have predominantly explored the influence of visuospatial abilities in lab-based settings and/or among inexperienced surgeons. Little is known about the impact of visuospatial profiles on actual laparoscopic performance and its role in shaping competency.

Method: A longitudinal observational cohort study using a pair-matched design over 27 months. At baseline, visuospatial profiles of 43 laparoscopic surgeons of all expertise levels and 19 control subjects were compared. The development of visuospatial abilities and their association with intraoperative performance of 18 residency surgeons were monitored during the course of their laparoscopic training.

Results: Laparoscopic surgeons significantly outperformed the control group on the measure of spatial visualisation (U = 273.0, p = 0.03, η2 = 0.3). Spatial visualisation was found to be a significant predictor of laparoscopic expertise (R² = 0.70, F (1.60) = 6.788, p = 0.01) and improved with laparoscopic training (B = 4.01, SE = 1.83, p = 0.02, 95% CI [0.40, 7.63]). From month 6 to 18, a strong positive correlation between spatial visualisation and intraoperative depth perception (r = 0.67, p < 0.01), bimanual dexterity (r = 0.60, p < 0.01), autonomy (r = 0.78, p < 0.01) and the total score (r = 0.70, p < 0.01) were observed but a strong relationship remained only with autonomy (r = 0.89, p < 0.01) and total score (r = 0.80, p < 0.01) at 18 months.

Conclusion: In this longitudinal cohort study, visuospatial abilities associate with laparoscopic skills and improve with training. Spatial visualisation may be characteristic of laparoscopic expertise as it has clear association with competency development during laparoscopy residency training programme.

Keywords: Laparoscopic skills; Longitudinal; Visuospatial Abilities.

Publication types

Observational Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Clinical Competence
Humans
Internship and Residency*
Laparoscopy* / methods
Longitudinal Studies
Spatial Navigation*