Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41772224›Full record

ArticleSurgical endoscopy2026

Surgical skills assessment on a vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (vNOTES) simulation box compared to a conventional endoscopic simulation box; the SAVE trial.

Rebecca Henschen, Ilse P W Bekkers, Jan Baekelandt, Jacques W M Maas, Huib A A M van Vliet, Martine M L H Wassen

Abstract readMulticenter StudyComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Surgical endoscopy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Rebecca HenschenDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Henri Dunantstraat 5, 6419 PC, Heerlen, The Netherlands. r.henschen@zuyderland.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-4124-3833
Ilse P W BekkersDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Henri Dunantstraat 5, 6419 PC, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
Jan BaekelandtDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Imelda Hospital, Bonheiden, Belgium.
Jacques W M MaasGROW-Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Huib A A M van VlietDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catharina Hospital, Michelangelolaan 2, 5623 EJ, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
Martine M L H WassenDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Henri Dunantstraat 5, 6419 PC, Heerlen, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveWith the growing adoption and implementation of vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (vNOTES), structured hands-on simulation practice is essential for the training of gynecologists and residents. This study compares the performance of validated surgical tasks using a conventional multiport laparoscopy box and a single-port vNOTES box. Additionally, participants' experiences and task load for each training modality were evaluated. DESIGN, SETTING AND

participantsThis multi-center, prospective comparative study included three groups: medical students and inexperienced gynecological residents (n = 15), gynecological residents (n = 15), and gynecologists (n = 15). Participants performed four validated laparoscopic skill tests on both the conventional laparoscopy box and the vNOTES box. For each task and box, total task time, number of errors, and total scores were recorded. Questionnaires regarding baseline characteristics, preferred box for hand-eye coordination, depth perception, and instrument handling, as well as task load (NASA Task Load Index scores) for both boxes were evaluated.

resultsA total of 45 participants were included, 35 females (77.8%) and 10 males (22.2%), with a mean age of 34.2 years (SD 11.1). Across all four tasks, the use of the vNOTES box was associated with less favorable scores in terms of task time, error rates, and total scores compared to the conventional laparoscopy box. In addition, the laparoscopy box was favored for depth perception (86.7%), hand-eye coordination (91.1%) and instrument usage (97.8%). The vNOTES box was associated with higher scores across all NASA Task Load Index domains, indicating it was more demanding overall.

conclusionThis study demonstrates that performing standardized surgical tasks using the vNOTES technique is significantly more challenging than with conventional laparoscopy, resulting in higher task load and inferior performance across all experience levels. These findings underline the need for tailored training, as existing laparoscopic skills do not directly translate to vNOTES proficiency. Future research should develop and validate vNOTES simulation exercises.

Indexed as

Clinical CompetenceGynecologic Surgical ProceduresLaparoscopyNatural Orifice Endoscopic SurgerySimulation TrainingAdultFemaleHumansInternship and ResidencyMaleProspective StudiesVaginaBox trainingLaparoscopySingle-port surgerySurgical skillsvNOTES

Identifiers

PMID41772224
PMCPMC13161292

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.