International forum of allergy & rhinology
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Int Forum Allergy Rhinol · Jan 2020
Virtual coach: the next tool in functional endoscopic sinus surgery education.
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) can be challenging as novices become accustomed to handling endoscopes and instruments while navigating complex sinonasal anatomy. Experts demonstrate fluid and efficient motions when addressing pathology. The training process from novice to expert relies on hands-on experience in cadaveric laboratories and preceptorship models that require significant time and expense. This study aims to validate the use of a virtual coach to guide users step-by-step through a basic FESS. ⋯ The virtual coach provides a useful tool to enhance FESS education by providing objective real-time data in a novel mixed-reality surgical environment.