Evaluation of Online Videos of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Using the LAP-VEGaS Guidelines

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is the most common bariatric surgical procedure worldwide. Educational videos of LSGs are available from online sources with YouTube® being the most popular online video repository. However, due to the unrestricted and uncontrolled nature of YouTube®, anyone can upload videos without peer review or standardization. The LAP-VEGaS guidelines were formed to guide the production of high-quality surgical videos. The aim of this study is to use the LAP-VEGaS guidelines to determine if videos of LSGs available on Youtube® are of an acceptable standard for surgical educational purposes. METHODS: A YouTube® search was performed using the term laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Appropriate videos were analysed by two individuals using the sixteen LAP-VEGaS guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 575 videos were found, of which 202 videos were included and analysed using the LAP-VEGaS guidelines. The median video guideline score was 6/16 with 89% of videos meeting less than half of all guidelines. There was no correlation between the LAP-VEGaS score and view count. CONCLUSIONS: There is an abundance of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy educational videos available on YouTube®; however, when analysed using the LAP-VEGaS guidelines, the majority do not meet acceptable educational standards for surgical training purposes.