Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42850301›Full record

ReviewSurgical endoscopy2026

Effect of virtual reality versus dry lab training on technical skills in robotic surgical simulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Samy Castillo-Flores, Ricardo E Nunez-Rocha, Andres A Abreu, Zachary A Whitham, Gilbert Z Murimwa, Morgan F Pettigrew, Ofelia Negrete-Vasquez, Ganesh Sankaranarayanan, Angela A Guzzetta, Daniel J Scott and 2 more

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review 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

12 authors.

Samy Castillo-FloresDepartment of Surgery, Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, USA.
Ricardo E Nunez-RochaDepartment of Surgery, Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, USA.
Andres A AbreuDepartment of Surgery, Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, USA.
Zachary A WhithamDepartment of Surgery, Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, USA.
Gilbert Z MurimwaDepartment of Surgery, Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, USA.
Morgan F PettigrewDepartment of Surgery, Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, USA.
Ofelia Negrete-VasquezDepartment of Surgery, Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, USA.
Ganesh SankaranarayananSimulation Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Angela A GuzzettaSimulation Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Daniel J ScottSimulation Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Herbert J ZehDepartment of Surgery, Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, USA.
Patricio M PolancoDepartment of Surgery, Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, USA. Patricio.polanco@utsouthwestern.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1719-1208

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVirtual reality (VR) and dry lab (DL) platforms are widely used for robotic surgery training, yet their comparative effectiveness remains uncertain, particularly for suturing skills.

methodsA systematic review of controlled studies comparing VR with physical robotic simulation was conducted; meta-analysis was restricted to VR versus DL studies. PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library were searched. The primary outcome was post-training technical performance; task completion time was secondary. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) or mean differences (MD) with 95% CI were calculated using random-effects models.

resultsTen studies (333 trainees) were included in the qualitative synthesis, and six (168 participants) in the quantitative analysis. DL training showed significantly higher post-test technical performance (SMD - 0.43; 95% CI - 0.74 to - 0.12). In RCTs (n = 89), the difference was not significant (SMD - 0.15; 95% CI - 0.57 to 0.27). Fixed-time curricula favored DL (SMD - 0.51; 95% CI - 0.96 to - 0.05), whereas proficiency-based progression showed no difference. Task completion time was similar between modalities (MD 0.14; 95% CI - 0.43 to 0.70).

conclusionsDL training was associated with higher post-test technical performance overall, but not in the RCT-only analysis; task completion time was similar between modalities. Both approaches may have complementary roles depending on curriculum, task, and trainee characteristics.

Indexed as

Dry lab trainingMeta-analysisRobotic surgerySurgical simulationTechnical performanceVirtual reality

Identifiers

PMID42850301

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.