Advanced surgical trauma care training with a live porcine model.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the benefit of a compulsory operative trauma care course for general surgeons in Norway utilising a live porcine model.


METHODS
The participants rated their expertise in 23 situations pre- and post-session on a scale 1-5, where 1 meant "not competent" and 5 meant "fully competent".


RESULTS
Mean total score increased 43% from pre- to post-session. The increase reached significance with all levels of experience. Procedures rarely performed, like suturing on a beating heart, showed a greater educational benefit than more frequently performed procedures, like inserting a chest tube.


CONCLUSIONS
The operative trauma care animal session increased the participants' perceived competence significantly. Its use seems justified for education in trauma related lifesaving surgical procedures.
Gaarder
Christine
C
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ullevaal University Hospital, Kirkeveien 166, 0407 Oslo, Norway. tinagaar@online.no
Naess
Paal A
PA
Buanes
Trond
T
Pillgram-Larsen
Johan
J
D000818:Animals; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000193:education*; D013552:Swine; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery*