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Effectiveness of laparoscopic cadaveric dissection in enhancing resident comprehension of pelvic anatomy.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Cundiff, GW; Weidner, AC; Visco, AG
Published in: J Am Coll Surg
April 2001

BACKGROUND: Anatomic instruction during preclinical years of medical school has been in decline recently. There is evidence that residents already lose a considerable portion of basic anatomic knowledge in the transition from student to clinician, and this deficit is even more dramatic in residents who start their training with a decreased understanding of anatomy. We questioned whether anatomy could be adequately retaught to new residents as surgical anatomy. In an effort to address this deficiency, we developed a program to teach pelvic anatomy in fresh cadavers using a laparoscopic approach. The purpose of this investigation is to determine if such a program is effective in enhancing residents' pelvic anatomy comprehension. STUDY DESIGN: An obstetrics and gynecology residency was divided into intervention (n = 15) and control (n = 13) groups. The intervention was a 4-hour laparoscopic dissection in a fresh cadaver. Outcomes measures included a multiple-choice test, practical exam, faculty evaluation, and satisfaction assessment. The faculty evaluation and satisfaction assessment used a visual analog scale. Univarate and nonparametric analysis were used when appropriate. RESULTS: Initial test scores (p = 0.32), faculty evaluations (p = 0.25), and satisfaction scores (p = 0.17) were similar. Both groups improved their anatomic knowledge based on test scores (p = 0.004) and faculty evaluations (p < 0.001), and final test scores were not significantly different (p = 0.19). Data measured on a 10-cm visual analog scale suggested higher faculty evaluations in the intervention group (14mm versus 10.3mm, (p = 0.23). Similarly there were higher scores on the cadaver test in the intervention group (65% versus 50%), (p = 0.13). The intervention group was significantly more satisfied with their anatomic training (16.1 mm versus-10.1 mm, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study did not have sufficient power to demonstrate that a single laparoscopic cadaveric dissection improves cognitive measures of anatomic perception, but suggested that it improves spatial perception of anatomy and is perceived by residents to be a valuable educational approach.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Am Coll Surg

DOI

ISSN

1072-7515

Publication Date

April 2001

Volume

192

Issue

4

Start / End Page

492 / 497

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surgery
  • Program Evaluation
  • Pelvis
  • Obstetrics
  • Obstetric Surgical Procedures
  • Medical Staff, Hospital
  • Laparoscopy
  • Humans
  • Gynecology
  • Female
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Cundiff, G. W., Weidner, A. C., & Visco, A. G. (2001). Effectiveness of laparoscopic cadaveric dissection in enhancing resident comprehension of pelvic anatomy. J Am Coll Surg, 192(4), 492–497. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1072-7515(01)00815-8
Cundiff, G. W., A. C. Weidner, and A. G. Visco. “Effectiveness of laparoscopic cadaveric dissection in enhancing resident comprehension of pelvic anatomy.J Am Coll Surg 192, no. 4 (April 2001): 492–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1072-7515(01)00815-8.
Cundiff GW, Weidner AC, Visco AG. Effectiveness of laparoscopic cadaveric dissection in enhancing resident comprehension of pelvic anatomy. J Am Coll Surg. 2001 Apr;192(4):492–7.
Cundiff, G. W., et al. “Effectiveness of laparoscopic cadaveric dissection in enhancing resident comprehension of pelvic anatomy.J Am Coll Surg, vol. 192, no. 4, Apr. 2001, pp. 492–97. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/s1072-7515(01)00815-8.
Cundiff GW, Weidner AC, Visco AG. Effectiveness of laparoscopic cadaveric dissection in enhancing resident comprehension of pelvic anatomy. J Am Coll Surg. 2001 Apr;192(4):492–497.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Am Coll Surg

DOI

ISSN

1072-7515

Publication Date

April 2001

Volume

192

Issue

4

Start / End Page

492 / 497

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surgery
  • Program Evaluation
  • Pelvis
  • Obstetrics
  • Obstetric Surgical Procedures
  • Medical Staff, Hospital
  • Laparoscopy
  • Humans
  • Gynecology
  • Female