Application of virtual reality stimulation in the training of transfemoral cerebral angiography / 中华医学教育探索杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To clarify the role of the virtual reality (VR)in the training of trans-femoral cerebral angiography for novices without any experience of intravascular manipulation. Methods Twenty-four novices without experiences of intravascular manipulation were divided into 2 groups (VR group or control group)with random pair method concerning the age,gender and subjects. The par-ticipants in control group were trained in routine manners while those in VR group practiced on a simulator and subsequently participated in real angiography once as assistants. Real angiography tests were performed for all participants after the training session and additional angiography tests were per-formed for VR group just after the stimulation session on the simulator. Real angiography tests were supervised and scored according to a modified rating scale by neuroradiological experts who were blinded to the novices' training procedures. Difference between the real test performance of the two groups were compared by pared-samples t test,while the correlation between the performance of the real tests and simulator tests of VR group was proved by Pearson correlation analysis. P<0.05 was con-sidered statistically significant. Results The mean scores of VR group were (27.6±3.6)and (26.4± 3.8)in the tests on simulator and real angiography tests respectively,while score of control group was (21.2±3.4)in the real angiography tests. A positive correlation was revealed in VR group between performance on the simulator and that on real patients (r=0.825,P=0.001). Real performance of the VR group was significantly better than that of control group (P=0.010). Conclusions Virtual reality could ensure transfer of acquired endovascular skills from simulators to patients so as to become a valid tool for novices to improve the interventional techniques in tranfemoral cerebral angiography.