Microsurgery Training with Opposite Side Stereoscopic Microscopes

Abstract

The efficiency of training systems for microsurgery has steadily become more important due to both the increasing need for medical oversight because of medico-legal considerations and the reduction in total number of surgeries being performed. Both Gamma-knife radiosurgery and intravascular intervention techniques have led to a reduction in indication for surgery. We have found that the use of opposite-side stereoscopic microscopes by the surgical assistant is a very useful training method. Younger trainee operators can gain surgical experience under the oversight of an experienced operator with very small risk for the patient.
Opposite-side microscopes appear to provide an opportunity for the younger operator to gain experience in as efficiently as possible.