Teaching ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia using remote immersive virtual reality: a randomized controlled trial
Authors' conclusion
The 3D RIVR telesimulation was comparable to 2D telesimulation for training novices in procedural skills for ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia. The 2D telesimulation was preferred by both instructors and learners.
Study context
- Population
- Medical students without prior exposure to ultrasound-guided procedures, learning an ultrasound-guided nerve block on a porcine simulation model
- Participants
- 24 medical students
- Comparison
- 2D telesimulation vs 3D remote immersive virtual reality (RIVR)
- Primary endpoint
- Pretest to posttest improvement in scores on a validated checklist
Methodological detailssingle-centre, assessor-blinded
- Single-centre
- Assessor-blinded
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Pretest to posttest improvement (validated checklist score)
| Group | Value | P (within-group improvement) |
|---|---|---|
| 2D telesimulation | mean 36.7 (95% CI 30.6–42.8) | P < 0.001 |
| 3D RIVR | mean 28.8 (95% CI 22.1–35.4) | P < 0.001 |
Value
2D telesimulationmean 36.7 (95% CI 30.6–42.8)
3D RIVRmean 28.8 (95% CI 22.1–35.4)
P (within-group improvement)
2D telesimulationP < 0.001
3D RIVRP < 0.001
Secondary outcomes
Student and instructor satisfaction (questionnaire after each session)
- Both instructors and students responded more positively to 2D teaching, likely owing to limitations of existing 3D RIVR technology
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Teaching ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia using remote immersive virtual reality: a randomized controlled trial. Can J Anaesth. Published 24 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →