ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Surgical videos uploaded on social media platforms like YouTube augment the learning experience of advanced procedures like major laparoscopic liver resection (LLR). However, because of the heterogeneous quality, the educational value of such videos is unproven. This study assesses the educational value of YouTube's top 20 most viewed major LLR videos. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The search terms "laparoscopic hemihepatectomy," "laparoscopic right hepatectomy," and "laparoscopic left hepatectomy" were searched on YouTube on October 7, 2020. Exclusion criteria were minor hepatectomy, open hepatectomy, live donor right and left hepatectomy, robotic hepatectomy videos, and nonstandard laparoscopic technique. Videos were graded based on adherence to key steps in LLR and compliance to the modified LAParoscopic surgery Video Educational GuidelineS (LAP-VEGaS); 29 of the original 37 consensus statements were used in our study. RESULTS: The videos have a median of 7647 views (range: 2675 to 67,449), a median of 34 likes (range: 3 to 67), and a median of 1 dislike (range: 0 to 22). The median duration of major LLR videos was 11.0 minutes (range: 6.38 to 223 min). Majority of the videos had duration of <30 minutes (n=18/20, 90%). There were 14 videos (70%) demonstrating all defined surgical steps. The liver mobilization was shown in 17 videos (75%). Vascular inflow control of hepatic artery and portal vein and vascular outflow control were demonstrated in 18 videos (90%). Parenchymal transection and hemostasis were shown in all videos. The median LAP-VEGaS score across all 20 videos is 6 (range: 1 to 11) out of 29, translating to a median score of 20.6% (range: 3.4% to 37.9%). Thirteen out of 29 of the LAP-VEGaS criteria graded (44.8%) were not met by any of the 20 videos. CONCLUSIONS: The top 20 most viewed surgical videos on laparoscopic right and left hepatectomy may not be the ideal material for the educational value of surgical trainees. The LAP-VEGaS guidelines are too exhaustive for relevance to social media platforms as an educational tool.
