Development and Validation of a Low-Cost and Simple Simulator for Microlaryngeal Surgery

Abstract

Objectives. The simulation of microlaryngeal skills is rarely seen in surgical training, but it is particularly important in phonomicrosurgery. This study described and validated the laryngeal surgical simulator through surgical training.Methods. A simple and low-cost simulator was developed for the fixation of the suspension laryngoscope and porcine larynges. Twenty participants with work skills and experience did preparation before training, and performed suture and carbon dioxide (CO2) laser cordectomy for simulator evaluation. The results were proposed by the aspects of time taken for each procedure, the global rating scale, a procedure-specific assessment, and a post-simulation questionnaire.Results. All participants completed the preparation within 9 minutes and reached the conclusion that the microlaryngeal surgical simulator was helpful in improving their surgical skills. The performance of experts was superior to that of novices in both suture and CO2 laser cordectomy.Conclusion. This simulator could be easily assembled and was successfully validated by microlaryngeal surgical training both subjectively and objectively. It may be helpful to clinicians in microlaryngeal skills.

Development and Validation of a Laryngeal Microsurgery Simulation Training System for Otolaryngology Residents

“…In the literature, there are different proposals for laryngeal microsurgery training models: synthetic, ex vivo, or mixed models. Twenty phonomicrosurgery reports with simulation models were found (research date: March 31, 2022) (Table 4), 8/20 had face validity, 6,15,30‐35 8/20 had content validity, 1,2,6,31,33,36‐38 and 6/20 had construct validity, 1,2,30,34,37,39 6/20 were not validated 8,40‐44 . Predictive validity was not assessed in any simulation program.…”

“…They report that experts had significantly higher scores than novices who performed: VF nodule excision and keratosis excision, 30 VF injection and tissue preservation, 1 and suture and CO 2 laser cordectomy. 37 Fleming et al report significantly higher scores in SRS for the expert group compared to novices but no difference in the GRS scores. 34 In the present study, we found significant differences between the expert and resident groups in both SRS and GRS, with higher scores for the experts.…”

“…There are articles that compare the performance of participants with varying levels of expertise (experts vs novices or residents) as they perform several phonomicrosurgical procedures, using SRS and GRS as assessment tools. They report that experts had significantly higher scores than novices who performed: VF nodule excision and keratosis excision, 30 VF injection and tissue preservation, 1 and suture and CO 2 laser cordectomy 37 . Fleming et al report significantly higher scores in SRS for the expert group compared to novices but no difference in the GRS scores 34 .…”