PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Atif Shafqat
AU  - Shumaila Mukarram
AU  - Nigel M Bedforth
AU  - Jonathan G Hardman
AU  - Robert A McCahon
TI  - Impact of video games on ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia skills
AID  - 10.1136/rapm-2020-101641
DP  - 2020 Nov 01
TA  - Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine
PG  - 860--865
VI  - 45
IP  - 11
4099  - http://rapm.bmj.com/content/45/11/860.short
4100  - http://rapm.bmj.com/content/45/11/860.full
SO  - Reg Anesth Pain Med2020 Nov 01; 45
AB  - Background There is an association between video game practice and laparoscopic expertize in trainee surgeons. Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia has many parallels with laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this study was to explore whether video game experience is associated with enhanced performance in a simulated ultrasound-guided task in novice operators.Methods In this prospective observational study, 60 medical student volunteers were recruited. Following characterization of video game experience, they underwent an assessment of visuospatial abilities. Following standardized teaching, the recruits’ technical performance of an ultrasound-guided needle task was assessed for overall quality by global rating scale (GRS).Results Out of a total possible GRS score of 35, gamers compared with non-gamers demonstrated 5.2 (95% CI 1.9 to 8.4) units of better performance. Gamers also performed better in mental rotation test scores (difference 4.1, 95% CI 1.2 to 7.0) .Conclusion Video game practice is associated with increased mental rotation ability and enhanced technical performance in a simulated ultrasound-guided task.