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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Angioplasty, Balloon, Carotid Stenosis, Clinical Competence, Computer Simulation, Curriculum, Education, Medical, Continuing, Educational Measurement, Humans, Models, Cardiovascular, Psychomotor Performance, Stents, User-Computer Interface.
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Do experienced endovascular interventionalists objectively improve their skills by attending carotid artery stent training courses? Context: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is an advanced endovascular intervention with a steep learning curve. Virtual reality (VR) simulation has been proposed as a means to train and objectively assess technical performance. To objectively assess psychomotor skills acquisition of experienced interventionalists attending a two-day CAS course, using a VR simulator. Both cognitive and technical skills of 11 interventionalists were trained in a two-day course using didactic sessions, case reviews, supervised VR simulation and live-cases. Pre- and post-course skills were assessed through performance on the same CAS procedure using metrics derived from the simulator. Significant differences were noted between pre- and post-course performance for procedure (36 vs. 20min., p=0.005), X-ray (20 vs. 11min., p=0.016) and delivery-retrieval time of the embolic protection device (12 vs. 9min., p=0.007). Advancement of the guiding catheter without a leading wire occurred to a greater extent pre- versus post-course (199 vs. 152mm., p=0.050) as did spasm of the internal carotid artery (4 vs. 2, p=0.049).
assistant
This study has objectively proven a benefit for experienced interventionalists to attend CAS courses for skills acquisition measured by a VR simulator. These data can be used to offer participants an insight into their skills and objectively audit course efficacy. Final Decision: yes