The development of a novel virtual reality simulation module for canine laparoscopic ovariectomy

Abstract Canine ovariectomy is a commonly performed procedure in veterinary practice and can be done via an open celiotomy or a laparoscopic approach. Laparoscopy requires different psychomotor skills from those involved in open surgery. Many of these basic skills can initially be acquired through s...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jennie Redander, Kerstin Anagrius, Karolina Brunius Enlund, Flemming Bjerrum, Lena Ström, Odd Höglund
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-025-00815-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849434126502854656
author Jennie Redander
Kerstin Anagrius
Karolina Brunius Enlund
Flemming Bjerrum
Lena Ström
Odd Höglund
author_facet Jennie Redander
Kerstin Anagrius
Karolina Brunius Enlund
Flemming Bjerrum
Lena Ström
Odd Höglund
author_sort Jennie Redander
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Canine ovariectomy is a commonly performed procedure in veterinary practice and can be done via an open celiotomy or a laparoscopic approach. Laparoscopy requires different psychomotor skills from those involved in open surgery. Many of these basic skills can initially be acquired through simulation-based training. Surgical simulation training benefits both the surgeon and the patient by offering the acquisition of new skills in a less stressful environment while lowering the risk for the patient. Virtual reality (VR) simulation training is well established in human medicine, but no VR modules have previously been available for veterinary procedure training for laparoscopy. This project aimed to develop a VR simulator module for canine laparoscopic ovariectomy on the simulator LapSim® (Surgical Science, Gothenburg, Sweden). The simulator module could offer veterinary surgeons the opportunity to gain the basic technical skills required for canine laparoscopic ovariectomy. Surgeons with experience in laparoscopic ovariectomy acted as content experts, and the development was a stepwise iterative process. The three-port technique was chosen; it included locating and lifting the uterine horn and sealing and transecting tissue to free the ovaries. The organs and tissues the surgeon interacted with during the simulation were the spleen, intestines, pancreas, ovaries, uterine horns, suspensory ligaments, mesometrium and mesovarium. The module included simulating haemorrhage from the spleen, ovarian and uterine vessels. Suggestions for the continued development of the simulation were identified. Examples were an increased haptic feel in some instances of tissue manipulation and the possibility of introducing a variation in the length of the ovarian pedicle. The last step of the simulated procedure included visual guidance for verification of haemostasis. Even though guidance is not part of a real-life operation, identifying anatomical landmarks was considered valuable from an educational perspective. A validity investigation study has been initiated to evaluate the module as an assessment tool.
format Article
id doaj-art-36d666f080fc4e2db67e43dd1115e434
institution Kabale University
issn 1751-0147
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
spelling doaj-art-36d666f080fc4e2db67e43dd1115e4342025-08-20T03:26:47ZengBMCActa Veterinaria Scandinavica1751-01472025-06-016711510.1186/s13028-025-00815-8The development of a novel virtual reality simulation module for canine laparoscopic ovariectomyJennie Redander0Kerstin Anagrius1Karolina Brunius Enlund2Flemming Bjerrum3Lena Ström4Odd Höglund5Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesEvidensia Djursjukvård ABDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesGastrounit, Surgical section, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and HvidovreDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesAbstract Canine ovariectomy is a commonly performed procedure in veterinary practice and can be done via an open celiotomy or a laparoscopic approach. Laparoscopy requires different psychomotor skills from those involved in open surgery. Many of these basic skills can initially be acquired through simulation-based training. Surgical simulation training benefits both the surgeon and the patient by offering the acquisition of new skills in a less stressful environment while lowering the risk for the patient. Virtual reality (VR) simulation training is well established in human medicine, but no VR modules have previously been available for veterinary procedure training for laparoscopy. This project aimed to develop a VR simulator module for canine laparoscopic ovariectomy on the simulator LapSim® (Surgical Science, Gothenburg, Sweden). The simulator module could offer veterinary surgeons the opportunity to gain the basic technical skills required for canine laparoscopic ovariectomy. Surgeons with experience in laparoscopic ovariectomy acted as content experts, and the development was a stepwise iterative process. The three-port technique was chosen; it included locating and lifting the uterine horn and sealing and transecting tissue to free the ovaries. The organs and tissues the surgeon interacted with during the simulation were the spleen, intestines, pancreas, ovaries, uterine horns, suspensory ligaments, mesometrium and mesovarium. The module included simulating haemorrhage from the spleen, ovarian and uterine vessels. Suggestions for the continued development of the simulation were identified. Examples were an increased haptic feel in some instances of tissue manipulation and the possibility of introducing a variation in the length of the ovarian pedicle. The last step of the simulated procedure included visual guidance for verification of haemostasis. Even though guidance is not part of a real-life operation, identifying anatomical landmarks was considered valuable from an educational perspective. A validity investigation study has been initiated to evaluate the module as an assessment tool.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-025-00815-8DogEducationEndoscopic surgeryMinimally invasiveTrainingVeterinary
spellingShingle Jennie Redander
Kerstin Anagrius
Karolina Brunius Enlund
Flemming Bjerrum
Lena Ström
Odd Höglund
The development of a novel virtual reality simulation module for canine laparoscopic ovariectomy
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
Dog
Education
Endoscopic surgery
Minimally invasive
Training
Veterinary
title The development of a novel virtual reality simulation module for canine laparoscopic ovariectomy
title_full The development of a novel virtual reality simulation module for canine laparoscopic ovariectomy
title_fullStr The development of a novel virtual reality simulation module for canine laparoscopic ovariectomy
title_full_unstemmed The development of a novel virtual reality simulation module for canine laparoscopic ovariectomy
title_short The development of a novel virtual reality simulation module for canine laparoscopic ovariectomy
title_sort development of a novel virtual reality simulation module for canine laparoscopic ovariectomy
topic Dog
Education
Endoscopic surgery
Minimally invasive
Training
Veterinary
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-025-00815-8
work_keys_str_mv AT jennieredander thedevelopmentofanovelvirtualrealitysimulationmoduleforcaninelaparoscopicovariectomy
AT kerstinanagrius thedevelopmentofanovelvirtualrealitysimulationmoduleforcaninelaparoscopicovariectomy
AT karolinabruniusenlund thedevelopmentofanovelvirtualrealitysimulationmoduleforcaninelaparoscopicovariectomy
AT flemmingbjerrum thedevelopmentofanovelvirtualrealitysimulationmoduleforcaninelaparoscopicovariectomy
AT lenastrom thedevelopmentofanovelvirtualrealitysimulationmoduleforcaninelaparoscopicovariectomy
AT oddhoglund thedevelopmentofanovelvirtualrealitysimulationmoduleforcaninelaparoscopicovariectomy
AT jennieredander developmentofanovelvirtualrealitysimulationmoduleforcaninelaparoscopicovariectomy
AT kerstinanagrius developmentofanovelvirtualrealitysimulationmoduleforcaninelaparoscopicovariectomy
AT karolinabruniusenlund developmentofanovelvirtualrealitysimulationmoduleforcaninelaparoscopicovariectomy
AT flemmingbjerrum developmentofanovelvirtualrealitysimulationmoduleforcaninelaparoscopicovariectomy
AT lenastrom developmentofanovelvirtualrealitysimulationmoduleforcaninelaparoscopicovariectomy
AT oddhoglund developmentofanovelvirtualrealitysimulationmoduleforcaninelaparoscopicovariectomy