Analysis of educational quality of minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy videos on YouTube: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD) is a complex procedure with a steep learning curve requiring advanced training and surgical proficiency. YouTube (Google LLC) is a widely used platform for surgical education; however, the quality of MIPD videos varies significantly. This study evaluates the educational quality of MIPD videos on YouTube and identifies characteristics of high-quality instructional content.

METHODS

A YouTube search was conducted on November 11, 2024, using the following 4 keywords: "laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy," "laparoscopic Whipple," "robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy," and "robotic Whipple." Among 200 screened videos, 66 met the inclusion criteria. Videos were evaluated using the Laparoscopic Video Educational Guidelines and Standards (LAP-VEGaS) guidelines (0-18) and an MIPD-specific scoring system (0-12).

RESULTS

The quality of YouTube MIPD videos varied considerably. Although videos from academic societies had more views, they did not consistently have higher scores. The highest-rated videos featured comprehensive elements such as preoperative imaging, anatomical annotations, detailed surgical technique, and structured narration. Top-performing videos achieved scores of up to 16/18 (LAP-VEGaS score) and 12/12 (MIPD-specific score).

CONCLUSION

Despite increased reliance on YouTube for surgical education, high-quality MIPD content remains scarce. Academic societies and surgical societies should actively contribute to the production and curation of standardized, high-quality videos to support global surgical training and improve outcomes.