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Biomedical subjects

Brian J Dunkin

Publications and source records attributed to Brian J Dunkin.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Validation of a flexible endoscopy simulator.

BACKGROUND: Virtual reality (VR) simulation is a rapidly proliferating adjunct of surgical training. Numerous devices have evolved as educational tools in a variety of fields. Whether these tools can be used for validation of physicians' skills has yet to be determined. The objective of this study was to determine whether the GI Mentor (Simbionix, Lod, Israel) flexible endoscopy simulator construct could distinguish experienced endoscopists from beginners. METHODS: Seventy-five surgical attendings, fellows, and residents were recruited for participation in the study. Two cohorts were used and these groups were selected from 2 separate scientific sessions. Participants completed a standardized questionnaire documenting their endoscopic training and experience. Physicians subsequently were designated as experienced or beginner after their endoscopic training and experience were evaluated. All participants completed 1 of 2 colonoscopic simulations. The GI Mentor objectively evaluated performance on the basis of programmed data points, including the time to reach the cecum, the percentage of mucosa visualized, the completed polypectomy rate, the percentage of time spent in clear view through the lumen, the percentage of time that the patient was in pain, and overall efficiency. RESULTS: In both simulations, experienced endoscopists were more efficient than beginners (.32%/s vs. .26%/s, P=.02; and .53%/s vs. .37%/s, P=.03) and achieved a greater polypectomy rate (78% vs. 43%, P=.03; and 87% vs. 48%, P=.01). Furthermore, experienced endoscopists visualized more of the colonic surface (86% vs. 82%, P=.02) and spent a greater proportion of the time in clear view of the lumen (55% vs. 47%, P=.05) than beginners completing the first simulation. In the second simulation, experienced participants reached the cecum more rapidly than beginners (175 vs. 262 s, P=.01). CONCLUSIONS: The G1 Mentor VR colonoscopy construct appears valid. Significant performance differences were shown between the experienced and beginner cohorts. The beginner participants in this study were all physicians with some degree of endoscopic experience. Therefore, the G1 Mentor distinguished endoscopists of varying experience and exposure. Further validation studies are needed to evaluate the breadth of programs inherent to this simulator and to determine whether it may be used in the future for qualification and certification purposes.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2004

Lessons learned from the operating room about procedure efficiency.

The driving force for increasing efficiency in most endoscopy suites is to accommodate the flood of patients requiring screening colonoscopy. It is likely that in the next 5 to 10 years, another, less invasive screening test, will replace this demand. This article reviews some of the lessons learned from surgeon's and anesthesiologist's efforts to improve operating room (OR) efficiency and suggests ways to apply this information to running the endoscopy suite.

Education, Medical, Graduate↗
PubMed2003

Flexible endoscopy simulators.

Training in flexible endoscopy is becoming increasingly complex. In an effort to improve the efficiency of endoscopic education, physicians are turning to simulation technology to provide a platform for training away from the endoscopy suite. The concept of medical simulation is not new, but the recent addition of powerful computer-generated virtual reality simulation has revolutionized the field. These compact computers are now able to generate a simulated environment that not only mimics the movement of the endoscope, but also recreates the sounds of the endoscopy suite, the feel of the movement of the scope, the reaction of intestinal tissue, and the response of a patient experiencing discomfort. Within this life-like simulated environment, a wide variety of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures can be performed. This article reviews the history of flexible endoscopy simulators and details the most advanced models currently available. The literature supporting the use of these simulators is also presented, and issues involving the incorporation of simulation technology into endoscopic education and credentialing are discussed.

Animals↗