Development of a neonatal intestinal anastomosis training program based on regulatory science

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K17598
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 55010:General surgery and pediatric surgery-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2021-2023); Gunma Institute of Public Health and Environmental Sciences (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Takazawa Shinya 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (40421094)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 小児外科 / 手術シミュレーター / 腸管吻合 / 低出生体重児

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed a low-birth-weight infant intestinal anastomosis training model that mimics the actual intestinal diameter. We had 13 pediatric surgeons perform suturing techniques and evaluated the validity of the simulator. A questionnaire survey showed that the wet intestine was highly rated. Furthermore, for the wet intestine, anastomotic leak pressure showed a significant correlation with the number of surgical experiences, demonstrating construct validity. Next, training was conducted for five young pediatric surgeons using the wet intestine. There was a statistically significant increase in the mean post-anastomosis leak pressure from 3.2 hPa to 7.2 hPa before and after training (p = 0.04). From the above, it was confirmed that this simulator has high construct validity and can actually improve anastomosis techniques.

Free Research Field

小児外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

小児外科領域における手術シミュレーターの研究は複数あるが、実際のトレーニング効果を検証した研究はまだ少なく、本研究は先駆的な結果を示すことができた。今後はより被験者を増やして実臨床におけるトレーニング効果を検証する。吻合手技が向上することで、縫合不全や吻合部狭窄の発生頻度を減らすことが示されれば、本シミュレーターの普及により、多くの患児の治療予後を向上させることができる。