REVIEW   

Italian Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery 2019 March;26(1):48-50

DOI: 10.23736/S1824-4777.18.01373-6

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The role of virtual reality in the training for carotid artery stenting: the perspective of trainees

Daniela MAZZACCARO ¹ ✉, Rim MIRI ², Bilel DERBEL ², Paolo RIGHINI ¹, Giovanni NANO ^{1, 3}

¹ First Unit of Vascular Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy; ² Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, La Rabta University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia; ³ Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

After forming the solid clinical foundations, physicians who perform carotid artery stenting (CAS) procedures begin their frequency in the operating room and gradually approach, with an increasingly effective participation, in the execution of surgical interventions, endovascular or hybrid procedures concerning all the districts. At this stage, the guidance of the various tutors is of great importance. Naturally, it is always difficult for everyone to go from theory to clinical practice. The training of surgeons who will perform CAS procedures is therefore carried out mainly on patients, with all risks concerning the safety of patients themselves. Simulation has been proposed as a way to improve learning curves in many surgical and endovascular procedures, without any risk of harm to operators or patients. Virtual reality in fact has proved to be of benefit in the acquisition of basic skills by novice operators, as well as in assessing technical skills. Aim of this review was to describe our experience in the use of virtual reality for the training of young surgeons for CAS procedures.

KEY WORDS: Carotid arteries - Stents - Virtual reality - Inservice training - Surgeons