PD Dr. Michael Müntener, Head of urology department, Triemli Hospital Zurich
The TURP module offers urologic surgeons a very realistic training with a wide range of prostate anatomies, pathologies and operative complications. The basic skills training with outside views guides the trainee and shows the important landmarks used for orientation. Color schemes mark the sections where to resect - and where to stop. Thus, urologists can practice to perfection without any risk for the patient and then transfer this experience to the OR.
TURP basic skills module
The basic skills module covers all aspects of a complete TURP procedure: the trainee learns how to safely enter the urethra, do a proper visualization of the bladder, and identify important landmarks such as verumontanum and ureteral orifices. Crucial learning objectives of this module also include efficient coagulation of bleedings to avoid severe complications later on.
TURP full procedure module
This module contains eight different patient cases for full TURP procedures to acquire all skills necessary to safely perform a complete transurethral resection of the prostate. The TURP courses teach an understanding of the anatomic landmarks, depth perception and hand-eye coordination during urologic surgery, and how to control flow and bleedings for a clear view during the BPH procedure.
TURB module
4 patients with different multiple papillary and solid tumors offer the trainee the opportunity to perform a complete TURB procedure in a safe environment without involving patient related risk. The goal of this urologic surgery is to remove bladder tumors in various locations, ranging from easily accessible to locations that are more difficult to reach. Managing complications is also one of the learning objectives: bleedings have to be controlled, and the risk of perforating the thin bladder wall has to be avoided.
BPH laser module
This BPH education module allows trainees to gain experience in removing prostatic tissue with ThuLEP and HoLEP. The prostate sizes range from 55-90 grams. Trainees learn how to use different power settings and laser techniques such as vaporization, enucleation, or vaporesection. Safe handling of the laser fiber without any harm for the virtual patient is one of the main learning goals of this laser BPH training.
VirtaMed UroS™
Support
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VirtaMed Connect™
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Connect lets you track student and cohort progress, helping you easily coach students on key areas for improvement and capture and compare student results over time.
Use Connect to scale simulation to your needs. Because it is cloud-based, Connect can help you easily manage multi-simulator or multi-site training programs.
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Training & Education
Our T&E team is here to help you get the most out of your simulator. In addition to introductory sessions, the T&E team offers in-depth training in a variety of areas and in multiple languages (English, German, French, Italian and Chinese). The T&E team can organize trainings that are as diverse as our customers, catering to groups of all sizes and interests. For example, they have helped customers develop courses for trainees preparing for the European board exam or the Swiss Orthopedic exam as well as courses for experienced professionals looking to train on the less-common joints such as the ankle. More about the VirtaMed Training & Education services
Construct validity of UroSim® simulator for learning transurethral resection of bladder tumor
Ahsan Rafi, Wajahat Aziz, and Mohammad H. Athercorresponding author
There is an increasing trend to incorporate Simulator-based training in urology residency programs. The study was designed to determine the construct validity of UroSim® for that we compared the performance of transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) between experts and novices.Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate: Simulation-Based Training Curriculum and Validation
Kuronen-Steward C, Ahmed K, Aydin A, Dasgupta P, Aho T, Popert R.
To evaluate the face, content, and construct validity of a novel virtual reality simulator for holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and to assess its feasibility and acceptability as a training model.Evaluation of the educational value of a virtual reality TURP simulator according to a curriculum-based approach
Tjiam IM, Berkers CH, Schout BM, Brinkman WM, Witjes JA, Scherpbier AJ, Hendrikx AJ, Koldewijn EL
This study aimed to evaluate the place of the TURPsim (VirtaMed) within a urologic residency training curriculum, including training needs analysis (TNA) and investigating its validity.Simulator Based Development of “Trans-Urethral Resection of Prostate”
Kashifuddin Qayoom soomro, Zakir Rajpar, Imran Memon, Shafiq-ur-Rehman
After the introduction of simulators in urology, education in urology has evolved significantly. Specially in endourology, development of Transurethral Resection of Prostate (TURP) skills are shifted from “direct on patient” to simulator based learning. we evaluated the development of TURP procedure skills based on virtual reality simulator (VirtaMed | UroSim™) and assessment of skills based on Global Rating Scale (GRS) evaluation system.Learning effects using a TURP simulator: Assessing changes in visual control and performance
Samuel Vine, Thomas Dutton, Mark Wilson, Elizabeth Bright, John McGrath
Surgical simulators afford trainees the chance to practice skills in a safe environment and without the need for supervision. Although they have been proposed to shorten the learning curve for complex surgical skills, there is concern that they do not prepare trainees for the demanding conditions of the operating room. Research in skill learning (including surgical skills) has shown that experts and novices can be distinguished by differences in their visual control strategies, with experts using fewer fixations of a longer duration. The aim of this study was to assess the learning benefits of a TURP simulator by examining, not only changes in novice performance, but also changes in their visual control.Visual Control Strategies of Surgeons: A Novel Method of Establishing the Construct Validity of a Transurethral Resection of the Prostate Surgical Simulator
Elizabeth Bright, Samuel J. Vine, Thomas Dutton, Mark R. Wilson, John S. McGrath
Significant differences between experts and novices in both performance and visual control strategy were observed. The study of visual control strategies may be a useful adjunct, alongside measurements of motor performance, providing a novel method of assessing the construct validity of surgical simulators.Face validity, construct validity and training benefits of a virtual reality TURP simulator
Elizabeth Bright*, Samuel Vine, Mark R. Wilson, Rich S.W. Masters, John S. McGrath
Virtual reality (VR) surgical simulators provide repetitive practice and performance feedback without requiring supervision in a safe environment. Simulators have the potential to shorten the learning curve for complex surgical procedures, create skills which transfer to the operating room and therefore decrease the incidence of future complications. Experts resected a significantly greater percentage of prostate per minute [...] and had significantly less active diathermy time without tissue contact [...] than novices.Virtual reality simulator for training urologists on transurethral prostatectomy
ZHU He, ZHANG Yi, LIU Jin-shun, WANG Gang, YU Cheng-fan and NA Yan-qun
As a new method of training on transurethral prostatectomy skills, training of TURP using a virtual simulator can help urologists improve their surgical skills and safety. Therefore, the application of the TURPSim™ system in education and training of urologic surgery is warranted.Virtual reality simulator for training on photoselective vaporization of the prostate with 980 nm diode laser and learning curve of the technique
J.C. Angulo, I. Arance, A. García-Tello, M.M. Las Heras, G. Andrés, H. Gimbernat, F. Lista, F. Ramón de Fata
The utility of a virtual reality simulator for training of the photoselective vaporization of the prostate with diode laser was studied.Reference Center HELIOS hospital group, Germany
The HELIOS Hospital Group consists of 110 acute and rehabilitation facilities with about 34.000 beds and more than 69.000 employees. The departments for urology and gynecology train a large group of residents each year until they complete their education as medical specialists. In 2011, HELIOS included VirtaMed's virtual reality simulators into their standard curriculum for residents in training. E.g. in each urology department, a simulator is placed at the disposal of each clinic for six weeks each year. During this time, the head physician conducts a training program. In his or her first year, every surgeon who wants to conduct transurethral resection has to perform 50 documented procedures on the simulators.