Simulador quirúrgico laparoscópico basado en dispositivo electrónico (tableta): "TrianguLap" una nueva herramienta educativa para cirugía laparoscópica.

BACKGROUND. Laparoscopic surgical skills are a contemporary requirement for general surgeons, urologists and gynecologists. Laparoscopic surgical simulators are the ideal methods to achieve this purpose. However, the more realistic the simulator, the higher its cost. Thus most of the high-tech simulators are out of the reach of the surgical trainees. We present “TrianguLap” a low-cost, portable, tablet-based laparoscopic surgical simulator that enhances laparoscopic surgical skills. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After a 30 min practice session with the “TrianguLap” simulator, 10 advanced laparoscopic surgeons answered a written survey giving their opinion regarding their educational experience with the laparoscopic surgical simulator. RESULTS: All 10 interviewed surgeons agreed that TrianguLap’s design is very practical and totally portable. Also they confirmed that it is a very useful tool to develop and practice several laparoscopic skills. All but one surgeons considered its cost to be accessible and that it closely resembles the real surgical experience for intrecorporeal suturing. CONCLUSIONS: Practicing several laparoscopic skills on the TrianguLap simulator enhances the educational experience of the surgical trainee by accelerating the learning process. It is a low-cost and totally portable surgical simulation device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]