Wang Y, Li L, Jiao Y. Innovations and trends in hepatobiliary surgery education: Embracing technological advancements for enhanced surgical training. World J Gastrointest Surg 2025; 17(12): 112410 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v17.i12.112410]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Yan Jiao, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China. lagelangri1@126.com
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Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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Minireviews
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Dec 27, 2025 (publication date) through Dec 25, 2025
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Publication Name
World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
ISSN
1948-9366
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Wang Y, Li L, Jiao Y. Innovations and trends in hepatobiliary surgery education: Embracing technological advancements for enhanced surgical training. World J Gastrointest Surg 2025; 17(12): 112410 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v17.i12.112410]
World J Gastrointest Surg. Dec 27, 2025; 17(12): 112410 Published online Dec 27, 2025. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v17.i12.112410
Innovations and trends in hepatobiliary surgery education: Embracing technological advancements for enhanced surgical training
Yu Wang, Lei Li, Yan Jiao
Yu Wang, Lei Li, Department of The First Operation Room, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
Yan Jiao, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
Co-first authors: Yu Wang and Lei Li.
Author contributions: Wang Y and Li L contributed equally to this work as co-first authors. Wang Y helped design the study and contributed to revisions to the final manuscript; Li L wrote the initial draft; Jiao Y contributed to the study design and literature review. All authors approved the final version to be published.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Yan Jiao, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China. lagelangri1@126.com
Received: July 27, 2025 Revised: August 15, 2025 Accepted: October 17, 2025 Published online: December 27, 2025 Processing time: 152 Days and 11 Hours
Abstract
The landscape of hepatobiliary surgical education has undergone a significant transformation with the integration of advanced technologies such as three-dimensional modeling, virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence. This review synthesizes recent advancements in surgical education, examining the role of these technologies in improving anatomical understanding, surgical skill acquisition, and overall trainee engagement. Evidence from randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and cohort studies shows that immersive training tools, including virtual reality, augmented reality, and haptic feedback, outperform traditional apprenticeship methods in fostering cognitive and psychomotor skills. Artificial intelligence applications provide real-time feedback, further enhancing learning efficiency. However, these technologies should complement, rather than replace, traditional hands-on training. Some challenges remain to be addressed, such as high costs, infrastructure requirements, and limited long-term validation of these technologies. The review concludes that while these innovations offer promising educational benefits, further research is needed to standardize their application and evaluate their long-term impact on surgical outcomes.
Core Tip: Technological innovations like three-dimensional modeling, virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence are transforming hepatobiliary surgery education by enhancing anatomical understanding and skill development. While these tools offer substantial benefits, they should complement, not replace, traditional hands-on training. Real-world practice—such as tissue handling and patient interaction—is essential for developing clinical judgment and interpersonal skills. Hybrid models, integrating both advanced technologies and traditional methods, are likely to become the future standard in surgical education, ensuring that trainees gain both technical expertise and essential experiential learning.
