Topic: Virtual Reality Simulation Training for Minimally Invasive Surgery

This Special Issue focuses on the current and future landscape of virtual reality (VR)-based simulation training in minimally invasive surgery. It aims to highlight cutting-edge developments in the application of VR simulation training for the acquisition of basic surgical skills in laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgery, as well as for improving operative performance in both minor and major minimally invasive surgery. Furthermore, this Special Issue emphasizes the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to the design and development of VR surgical simulators that better meet surgeons’ needs. It invites submissions addressing the application of machine learning algorithms, advanced simulation techniques, and three-dimensional (3D) anatomical modeling in the development of VR-based training systems for minimally invasive surgery.   

The topics covered include, but are not limited to:

● VR simulator training in laparoscopic surgery;

● VR simulator training in robot-assisted surgery;

● VR simulator training for basic surgical skillacquisition;

● VR simulator training in laparoscopic hernia surgery;

● VR simulator training in laparoscopic cholecystectomy;

● VR simulator training in colorectal surgery;

● VR simulator training in minimally invasive endocrine surgery;

● Challenges in designingVR simulators for advanced surgical procedures;

● Interdisciplinary approachesto VR simulator development for minimally invasive surgery;

● Assessment of surgical performance in VR-basedsimulation training.

Virtual reality, surgical simulation, minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopic surgery, endocrine surgery, robot-assisted surgery, artificial intelligence-assisted surgery, performance assessment, clinical translation, vr simulator design