[Totally artificial training model for coronary heart surgery: the renunciation of animal experiments?].
OBJECTIVE
Animal protection laws will lead to stricter and more selective criteria thus resulting in a decline of available animals. Yet to train cardiac surgical skills a totally artificial training model was developed.
The model is based on differently hardened polyurethane. Cover is a 1:1 replica of the human thoracic wall. Disposable coronaries are integrated in the heart-model. Vessels and part of the ascending aorta can be rinsed. By means of a newly designed air-pump stroke volume, heart-rate and rhythm can be adjusted.


RESULTS
Set-up of the model is easy and quick. Accustomed instruments can be used. Handling of artificial tissue is nature-like. Degree of difficulty is dependent on stroke volume, heart rate, arrhythmia, vessel-size and vessel-quality.


CONCLUSIONS
The phantom helps to achieve confidence in coronary revascularisation. It facilitates an accompanying training for the less-trained as well as the skilled surgeon. The nature-like characteristics will help to reduce animal experiments in future.
Reuthebuch
Oliver
O
Klinik für Herz- und Gefässchirurgie, UniversitätsSpital, CH-Zürich. oliver.reuthebuch@chi.usz.ch
Schmidt
Dörthe
D
Lang
Axel
A
Groscurth
Peter
P
Turina
Marko
M
D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000601:surgery; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000601:surgery; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000193:education*