Validation of an anorectal malformation trainer - Can a high-fidelity model simulate real life?

The average American pediatric surgery fellow performs just 15 posterior sagittal anorectoplasties during their entire training

Recertifying surgeons are averaging only 2 PSARPs per year

Nearly 30% of recertifying surgeons are doing no PSARPs at all

Technical precision in PSARP directly impacts continence outcomes

The PSARP simulator was developed by a team of researchers at Boston Children's, Cincinnati Children's, and Nationwide Children's Hospitals

The simulator validation study was published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery

The simulator replicates the full anatomy of a recto vestibular and ectal malformation, including a fistula, the sphincter complex, vagina, and rectum, with realistic haptics

27 surgeons (11 experts and 16 novices) performed a complete PSARP on the model at an international surgery meeting

Sessions were independently scored by 3 blinded colorectal surgeons

The model demonstrated face, content and discriminate construct validity

Participants rated the anatomy and haptics as highly realistic

Experienced colorectal surgeons confirmed the simulator's value as a teaching tool

The simulator reliably differentiated experts from novices on every single step of the procedure

Boston Children's Hospital has integrated the simulator into their fellowship curriculum

A male rectal urethral fistula version of the simulator is in development