The virtual reality laparoscopic colorectal curriculum

The virtual reality (VR) laparoscopic colorectal curriculum is a unique and innovative learning opportunity for surgical trainees. Although it can enhance the skills of senior surgeons, its main aim is to introduce junior surgeons to the concept and practice of laparoscopic colorectal surgery before they might have the opportunity to perform such surgery on patients in theatres. Based at the Medical Simulation Centre at the Royal Free hospital in London (http://www.rfh-simulator-centre.co.uk/), the curriculum equips the trainee with the technical skills to perform a VR laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy independently to objectively defined benchmarks calculated from surgeons who have completed over 100 laparoscopic colorectal resections.