# An introductory course to improve surgical core competencies of young hepatobiliary surgeon

## TL;DR

A new training course helps young liver surgeons improve skills in CT interpretation and surgical planning using integrated tools and resources.

## Contribution

A structured introductory training program integrating CT imaging, surgical workflows, and a dedicated database for self-practice was developed and evaluated.

## Key findings

- 107 trainees completed the course and 91 provided positive feedback on its effectiveness.
- Trainees reported that anatomical labeling and multi-dimensional measurements enhanced their understanding of liver anatomy and CT interpretation.
- The medical imaging and surgical video database was highlighted as a valuable learning resource.

## Abstract

Traditional teaching methods often fall short in addressing the challenges posed by new technologies that reveal complex anatomical details. The widespread adoption of laparoscopy and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction in liver surgery has significantly impacted clinical education. A key focus—and ongoing difficulty—in this setting is training junior surgeons in computed tomography (CT) interpretation and surgical planning. To address this gap, we developed and implemented a structured introductory training program.

In this study, our course was designed with three distinctive features: (1) integration of teaching content into routine diagnostic and therapeutic workflows; (2) the purpose of teaching was achieved by measuring the relationship between lesions and fixed anatomical landmarks using tools on CT images and during surgery; and (3) incorporation of a dedicated medical imaging and surgical video database to support daily self-practice and assessment.

Between January and December 2024, 107 trainees completed the course and were invited to participate in a post-training survey, and 91 responses were collected. Feedback indicated strong satisfaction with the proposed teaching model. Respondents highlighted the value of the image and video database as an effective learning resource. In addition, performing anatomical landmark labeling and conducting multi-dimensional measurements were reported to reinforce the understanding of hepatic anatomy and CT interpretation.

This study outlines the design and initial implementation of an introductory course aimed at improving core surgical competencies among early-career hepatobiliary surgeons. Survey results support its educational utility and acceptability, providing a basis for further curricular refinement and broader adoption.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-026-08590-4.