According to a report from NPR, as robot-assisted surgery using the Da Vinci surgical system is becoming common practice for specialized medical fields (such as urology and gynecology), more surgeons are going to be expected to know how to use the device. The way that the Da Vinci robot works is that the user sits at a control terminal, and then they use hand and feet controls to manipulate surgical parts attached to their patient. At UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, virtual reality (VR) is being used to train residents on how to use a robotic assistant for surgeries.

“It never was an issue because open surgery, like scissors — like everyone learns how to use scissors in kindergarten,” said Dr. Kenneth Kim, director of the robotic training program at UAB Hospital. “Everyone knows, functionally, how to use a knife. But with the robot, it’s a totally different, new tool and it’s more complex, so now that has a separate learning curve.”

OBGYN resident Teresa Boitano told Mary Scott Hodgin of NPR that exercises in VR help to develop skills that are practical for the operating room. One of the VR exercises involve moving the robot’s arms to precisely place colorful rings onto corresponding spikes.

“And so I’m going now to grab this first ring and at the same time I’m thinking, ‘OK now where do I need to go to get the next one?’ ” Boitano said. “You’re always trying to stay ahead of the game but then also, making sure you’re not doing any errors at the same time.”

The VR training provides real-time feedback by recording Boitano’s movements, so while she goes through a simulated hysterectomy, she’ll know how accurately she moves the Da Vinci system’s arms and how quickly she completes the exercise. Dr. Kim said that simulators and the data they provide help streamline the teaching process and offer the opportunity to give students more objective feedback. It is a way for surgeons to learn to use the Da Vinci robot as a tool, but Kim said that students still have to watch and learn.

“The simulator’s good, but it can only simulate so much,” said Dr. Kim.

In the real world, Dr. Kim said robot-assisted surgery is not right for every patient. A surgeon needs to know when to use it and when not to use it, and those decisions can change as researchers continue to study patient outcomes from robotic surgery.

VR for education is proving to be a powerful tool, as studies prove that VR engages students more than passive media and augmented reality (AR) has quantifiable effects on social interactions.