689) or percent of minimal invasive selleck compound surgeries (P = .858) three months after course. Most (n = 127, 59%) of the participants reported having a practice partner when they performed most laparoscopic procedures and 58% (n = 73) of these partners were also taking the course. Controlling for precourse self-rated laparoscopy skill, having their practice partner at the course did not make a significant difference in the self-rated skill of the participant (P = .414) three months after course. Controlling for precourse self-rated urogynecologic skills, having their practice partner at the course did not make a significant difference in the self-rated urogynecologic skills of the participant (P = .084) three months after course.

In addition once precourse data were controlled, having their practice partner at the course did not make a significant difference in the number (P = .469) or percent of minimal invasive surgeries (P = .305) three months after course. 4. Discussion Practicing gynecologists need an effective means for learning new skills and procedures in laparoscopic surgery, including hysterectomy. It has been shown that a focused hands-on course can produce quantifiable improvements in laparoscopic skills [6�C8]. Surgical simulation using video trainer boxes has been demonstrated to lead to greater dexterity and efficiency, as well as comfort performing complex laparoscopic procedures [9]. Residents trained on laparoscopic surgery simulators showed improvement in procedural performance that translated to improved efficacy in the operating room [10].

Surgeons trained in courses offering skills-based lectures, surgical video analysis, precepted pelvic trainer performance, and precepted cadaver laboratory experienced significant expansion of their minimal invasive surgical practice, including suturing [7, 10]. It has been shown that focused courses on laparoscopic ventral herniorrhaphy and splenectomy can increase the number of minimally invasive procedures that general surgeons employ in their armamentariom [11, 12], but such evidence has not been reported for gynecologic surgeons performing hysterectomy. All course attendees were exhorted to complete the Holiotomy challenges after an explanation of their evidence-basis, which allowed surgeons to develop their psychomotor and manual dexterity skills in a low-stress environment, enhancing muscle memory, and proven to translate into operating room skills [13].

While the ��Holiotomy challenge�� has not been validated, per se, it is based on published evidence that 5�C7 repetitions of intracorporeal knot-tying in trainer boxes effectively enhanced efficiency and translated well into operating room skills GSK-3 [14�C16]. The Holiotomies and the trainer boxes simulated the most difficult tasks during a total laparoscopic hysterectomy: the parametrial dissection and the closure of the vaginotomy.