Abstract
Purpose:
The objective was to determine the acceptability and preliminary construct validity for a high-fidelity synthetic renal pelvis/ureter tissue analogue model for use as a simulation model for training of laparoscopic pyeloplasty.
Materials and Methods:
The pyeloplasty model was designed with incorporated assessment lines for use in post-task Black Light Assessment of Surgical Technique (BLAST)™. Practicing urologists participating in the 2011 and 2012 American Urological Association Mentored Renal Laparoscopy courses performed a simulated laparoscopic pyeloplasty procedure and completed a post-task evaluation of the model.
Results:
Practicing urologists found the model acceptable and rated the model favorably in terms of content and face validity. Urologists who had performed a laparoscopic pyeloplasty procedure in the last 5 years outperformed those who had not by demonstrating increased patency (P<0.05), decreased twisting (P<0.05), and decreased leakage (P<0.10) at the anastomosis.
Conclusions:
The BLAST™ pyeloplasty model demonstrated evidence of acceptability and content, face, and construct validity for training practicing urologists to perform laparoscopic pyeloplasty.
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