Abstract 4371551: Progressive Structured Simulation-based Surgical Training Program (PROCESS) - Open Vascular Surgery: Pilot Study For A Cross-over, Randomized, Double-blinded Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Vascular surgery increasingly favors endovascular procedures, yet they're not always suitable. Open vascular surgery remains crucial, but training in this area has declined, leading to a lack of standardized preparation for residents. While isolated simulations exist, a clear need for structured, progressive programs in open vascular surgery remains. Research Question: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of a structured and progressive simulation-based training program in developing technical competencies for open vascular surgery. Methods: A sequential, randomized, single-blind, three-arm clinical trial will be conducted to evaluate the Open Vascular Surgery (OVS) simulation program, which comprises three progressive modules: basic surgical skills, isolated vascular anastomosis (VA), and a complex open procedure (abdominal aortic open repair – AAOR). Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups based on their module exposure: Group I will complete only the AAOR module; Group II will complete the VA and AAOR modules; and Group III will complete all three modules. Learning outcomes and skill acquisition will be assessed through a multiple-choice questionnaire for theoretical knowledge and two validated tools for practical skills: Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) and OPEn Aortic Aneurysm Repair Assessment of Technical Expertise tool. The trial was double-blinded, with participants and external evaluators. Results: A pilot study involving six medical students successfully implemented the randomization, training, and assessment protocols. All participants completed both theoretical and practical components. The study demonstrated that participants of the full progressive simulation-based training (Group III) achieved superior technical performance in fine motor skills, vascular anastomosis, and AAOR scores compared to those with limited module exposure. These findings support the feasibility and effectiveness of structured, stepwise training in open vascular surgery. Conclusions: The pilot study proved the feasibility of using simulation-based training and structured assessment tools in undergraduate medical education. Also demostrates the preliminary efficay of proggresive structure simulation based training in psicomotor skills adquisiton for open vascular surgery.