The effectiveness of using 3D reconstruction software for surgery to augment surgical education

• Published in: The American journal of surgery Vol. 218; no. 5; pp. 1016 - 1021
• Main Authors: Bailer, Ryan, Martin, Robert C.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2019; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Clinical Competence; Computed tomography; Computer programs; Diagnostic software; Diagnostic systems; Education; Educational Measurement; General Surgery - education; General Surgery - standards; Health Care Surveys; Humans; Identification methods; Image reconstruction; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - standards; Internship and Residency - standards; Lesions; Medical imaging; Pancreas; Pancreatectomy; Pancreatic Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Pancreatic Neoplasms - surgery; Questionnaires; Radiology; Radiology - education; Radiology - standards; Reconstruction; Resectability; Risk assessment; Software; Statistical analysis; Surgeons; Surgery; Surgical outcomes; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; Veins & arteries; Reconstruction; Radiology; Resectability; Software; Education; Surgery
• ISSN: 0002-9610; 1879-1883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2019.07.045

Assimilating diagnostic radiology education into undergraduate medical education remains a challenge. This challenge places a greater emphasis in surgical residency to ensure this education occurs. The objective of this study is to determine whether a 3D-reconstruction may improve surgical residents’ assessment of resectability of pancreatic lesions. Four cases were identified of patients with a pancreatic lesion; high-quality, triphasic abdominal CT scans were obtained and evaluated to ensure sufficient resolution and slice thickness. The images then were used for 3D-reconstruction of the cases. PGY3-5 residents had a statistically-significant higher percentage of correct answers on objective questionnaire items using CT in conjunction with 3D-reconstruction software versus CT only. PGY1-2 residents had a higher percentage of correct answers using 3D-reconstruction software, but the difference was not statistically significant. 3D-reconstruction software could be a viable tool to augment radiology education within a surgery residency, especially in CT interpretation, but there appears to be a minimum threshold of knowledge needed for meaningful improvement; therefore, this software may be more useful for PGY3-5 residents than PGY1-2 residents. •Surgical residency radiology training is needed to make up for inadequate training of undergraduates.•3D software makes the residents feel more confident about resectability and the ability to obtain R0 resections R0 resection versus only viewing the case as a CT scan.