| Currently, simulation of thoracic surgery is possible with 3D printing technologies. 3D printing technology would provide enhanced educational opportunities for trainees, especially for low-volume, low-visibility, high-risk operations such as VATS lobectomy. Simulation-based surgical training can improve the surgeons’ learning curve. Understanding the anatomy of the lung and recognizing anatomical variations shorten the learning curve. The idea of virtual reality simulators plays a significant role in practicing with the simulator before operation. However, there was no simulator designed with patient-specific models, pulmonary blood flow and Mono-pulmonary ventilation. Herein, we introduce the simulator of VATS lobectomy and segmentectomy is supposed to make the learning curve shorter. Artificial intelligence-based technologies showed remarkable efficacy to improve the perioperative evaluation of the patient, to assist the decision- making process, to enhance the surgical performance, and to optimize the operating room scheduling. |
