Advanced simulation: Transforming surgical skills and safety

Yuki Tanaka

doi:10.35841/2591-7765-9.3.211

Mini Review - Journal of Advanced Surgical Research (2025) Volume 9, Issue 3

Advanced simulation: Transforming surgical skills and safety

Yuki Tanaka^*

Department of Surgical Education, Osaka Medical University, Osaka, Japan

*Corresponding Author:: Yuki Tanaka
Department of Surgical Education
Osaka Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
E-mail: yuki.tanaka@osakamed.jp

Received : 04-Jul-2025, Manuscript No. aaasr-211; Editor assigned : 08-Jul-2025, PreQC No. aaasr-211(PQ); Reviewed : 28-Jul-2025, QC No aaasr-211; Revised : 06-Aug-2025, Manuscript No. aaasr-211(R); Published : 15-Aug-2025 , DOI : 10.35841/2591-7765-9.3.211

Citation: Tanaka Y. Advanced simulation: Transforming surgical skills and safety. aaasr. 2025;09(03):211.

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Introduction

Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) offers a highly effective platform for laparoscopic surgical training, significantly improving skill acquisition and performance compared to traditional training methods. This approach provides a safe, repeatable environment for trainees to practice complex procedures without patient risk, demonstrating measurable improvements in surgical precision and efficiency, crucial for modern surgical readiness [1].

Simulation-based mastery learning for advanced laparoscopic skills proves highly effective, leading to superior skill retention and transferability to the operating room. This method ensures trainees achieve a predefined level of proficiency before advancing, optimizing learning outcomes and enhancing patient safety by reducing errors during actual procedures, fostering confidence and precision [2].

Virtual Reality simulation is a robust educational tool for surgical training across diverse specialties, facilitating effective skill acquisition, improving procedural understanding, and enhancing surgical readiness. It provides a flexible and accessible platform for repetitive practice, essential for developing complex psychomotor and cognitive skills across various surgical contexts [3].

Three-dimensional (3D) printing significantly advances surgical training by enabling the creation of patient-specific anatomical models. These models offer highly realistic haptic feedback and visual cues, improving trainees' understanding of complex anatomy, aiding in pre-surgical planning, and allowing for risk-free practice of intricate procedures, enhancing foresight [4].

Augmented Reality (AR) enhances surgical education by overlaying digital information onto the real-world view during training. This technology aids in critical areas like anatomical recognition, intraoperative navigation, and procedural guidance, offering an immersive learning experience that bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, making learning intuitive [5].

Serious games offer an engaging and effective supplementary method for surgical training, contributing to improved cognitive skills, knowledge retention, and procedural performance among trainees. Their interactive nature fosters a motivational learning environment, allowing for repeated practice and immediate feedback in a low-stress setting, simplifying complex tasks [6].

Haptic feedback integration into surgical simulation significantly enhances the realism and efficacy of training by allowing trainees to 'feel' tissues and instruments. This tactile dimension is crucial for developing psychomotor skills, improving dexterity, and refining force application, leading to better performance in real surgical scenarios, replicating the sense of touch [7].

Robotic surgery simulators demonstrate robust construct validity, affirming their utility as reliable tools for training and assessing the proficiency of residents in robotic surgical techniques. These platforms provide standardized metrics for performance evaluation, ensuring trainees achieve competency in complex robotic procedures before operating on patients, mastering intricate movements [8].

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly being integrated into surgical simulation training, offering personalized and adaptive learning experiences. AI-driven platforms provide automated performance assessment, intelligent feedback, and customized curricula, significantly enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of skill acquisition and mastery for future surgeons, tailoring the learning path [9].

Both cadaveric models and high-fidelity simulators play crucial, complementary roles in surgical training. While cadavers offer unparalleled anatomical realism and tactile feedback, high-fidelity simulators provide repeatable, standardized practice, objective performance metrics, and the ability to train for rare or complex scenarios without ethical constraints, thus ensuring comprehensive education [10].

Conclusion

Modern surgical training increasingly relies on advanced simulation technologies to improve skill acquisition and patient safety. Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) platforms are highly effective for laparoscopic training, providing safe and repeatable environments for complex procedures, leading to measurable improvements in surgical precision. Simulation-based mastery learning ensures trainees reach proficiency before advancing, enhancing skill retention and transferability to the operating room. Virtual Reality (VR) simulation serves as a robust educational tool across specialties, fostering skill acquisition and procedural understanding through flexible, repetitive practice. Three-dimensional (3D) printing creates patient-specific anatomical models, offering realistic haptic and visual feedback for understanding complex anatomy and risk-free practice. Augmented Reality (AR) enhances education by overlaying digital information onto real-world views, aiding anatomical recognition, intraoperative navigation, and procedural guidance. Serious games provide engaging, supplementary training, improving cognitive skills, knowledge retention, and procedural performance with immediate feedback. Haptic feedback in simulation significantly boosts realism, allowing trainees to 'feel' tissues, critical for developing psychomotor skills and refining force application. Robotic surgery simulators demonstrate strong construct validity, serving as reliable tools for training and assessing residents' proficiency in robotic techniques, with objective performance metrics. Both cadaveric models and high-fidelity simulators play complementary roles. Cadavers offer anatomical realism, while simulators provide repeatable practice, objective metrics, and ethical training for rare scenarios. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is integrating into simulation, offering personalized, adaptive learning with automated assessment and intelligent feedback to enhance skill mastery.