Xray Exposure Time in Dedicated Academic Simulation Programs Is Realistic of Patient Procedures

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain whether simulated endovascular procedures are comparable to real life operating room (OR) procedures, particularly with regard to irradiation time. Methods: This was a retrospective study comparing simulation with clinical data. Fluoroscopy time and overall operation time were compared between simulated abdominal aortic endovascular repair (EVAR) and iliac procedures that were performed, respectively, from 2016 to 2019 and from 2015 to 2019, and clinical EVAR and iliac procedures performed in the OR between January 2018 and November 2021. Results: Within the defined periods, 171 simulated procedures (91 EVAR, 80 iliac) and 199 clinical procedures (111 EVAR, 88 iliac) were performed. For both EVAR and iliac procedures, median total procedure time was much longer during real surgery (p < .001). However, median total fluoroscopy time remained the same, whether the procedure was real surgery or performed on the simulator, for iliac procedures (8.47 minutes in the OR, 8.35 minutes on the simulator, p = .61) and for EVAR procedures (14.80 minutes in the OR, 15.00 minutes on the simulator p = .474). Conclusion: Simulated endovascular procedures are comparable with real life OR procedures, particularly with regard to irradiation time when integrated in a dedicated curriculum.

Keywords

• Education
• Fluoroscopy time
• Simulation
• Vascular surgery