Error-based assessment of technical performance in pediatric laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair using the generic error rating tool: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND

We aimed to evaluate the feasibility, reliability, and educational utility of applying the generic error rating tool (GERT) for identifying intraoperative technical errors and assessing technical proficiency during pediatric single-incision laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (SILPEC) procedures.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study conducted at a single tertiary-care university hospital included 25 pediatric patients (< 16 years) who underwent unilateral SILPEC procedures with complete operative video recordings between January and December 2022. Surgical technical performance was independently assessed using the GERT and objective structured assessment of technical skill (OSATS) frameworks by two blinded pediatric surgeons. Inter-rater reliability was analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Based on the median OSATS score as a cut-off, cases were further categorized into high- and low-performance groups, and the association between GERT-derived error metrics and technical proficiency was evaluated.

RESULTS

A mean total of 273 errors and 32 events were identified across all procedures. GERT demonstrated excellent inter-rater reliability for total errors (ICC = 0.92) and total events (ICC = 0.97). GERT error counts showed a strong negative correlation with OSATS scores for both evaluators: Spearman's ρ = - 0.78 (P < 0.001) for evaluator 1 and ρ = - 0.63 (P < 0.001) for evaluator 2. Compared with the high-performance group (OSATS > 26), the low-performance group exhibited significantly more errors (median 13 vs. 8.5) and events (median 1 vs. 0.5) per procedure (P = 0.0016 and P = 0.032, respectively). Errors and events were disproportionately concentrated during suturing along the outer semicircle of the hernia orifice.

CONCLUSIONS

GERT demonstrated high feasibility and excellent inter-rater reliability for assessing technical performance in pediatric SILPEC. Its structured error profiling correlated with global performance scores and enabled detailed identification of intraoperative errors, supporting tailored formative feedback and continuous skill development in pediatric surgical education.