Approaches to Laparoscopic Training in Veterinary Medicine: A Review of Personalized Simulators

Simple Summary The field of veterinary minimally invasive surgery has grown, but there is a lack of easily accessible training tools for practitioners worldwide. While borrowing human medicine simulators helps with basic skills, specific veterinary procedures require specialized training. Some simulators are being developed, validated, and found to be effective for training vets both in basic skills and advanced techniques. Nevertheless, these simulators are of interest mostly for dogs and horses, and their number is small. This study emphasizes the need for more advanced simulators to improve surgical techniques for various animal species.Abstract Veterinary minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has experienced notable growth in recent years, yet the availability of specialized training tools remains limited and not readily accessible to practitioners worldwide. While borrowing simulators from human medicine practices suffices for acquiring fundamental laparoscopic skills, it proves inadequate when addressing procedure-specific nuances. Veterinary professionals are now taking steps to create simulators tailored to their patients, although the validation process can be time-consuming. Consequently, the availability of advanced laparoscopic simulators for veterinary training remains scarce. The present study aims to highlight custom-made simulators. A comprehensive search across five databases was conducted to uncover the simulators documented from 2010 to 2022. A total of five simulators emerged from this search, with four grounded in a canine model and only one in an equine model. These models underwent validation and were found to be effective in training surgeons for their designated tasks. The findings underscore a limited array of simulators, predominantly catering to two species (horses and dogs). Considering these findings, it is evident that further research is imperative to create laparoscopic simulators capable of facilitating advanced veterinary training. This would enable the continued evolution of surgical techniques across diverse species, including ruminants, small mammals, and non-mammalian animals.