title: The incredible T vein graft: developing increased microsurgical skill through a competitive student exercise.
abstract: We developed an exercise to encourage microsurgery students to practice technically difficult procedures. The incredible T exercise uses the contralateral femoral vein of the rat as an interpositional graft into the femoral vein and the inferior epigastric vein as an end-to-side anastomosis into the graft. The technically difficult procedure requires students to practice and improve their surgical technique, thereby gaining skill and self-confidence. Friendly competition helps to make the learning process more enjoyable.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gruel
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Brabham
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation*