title: A newly designed training tool for microvascular anastomosis techniques: Microvascular Practice Card.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We report a newly designed training card (Microvascular Practice Card) that is a non-animal practice tool for surgical training and practicing the skills for microvascular anastomosis techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Microvascular Practice Card is a pocketbook-sized card that has silicone tubes affixed to it. On the card, 6 small-diameter, 4-cm-long tubes side by side are arranged in 4 directions with both ends secured. The tubes are available in diameters of 2.0, 1.0, 0.5, and 0.3 mm. The thickness of the tube wall is 0.05 or 0.1 mm. The card includes a record area that allows records to be written. Four directional tubes are arranged on one card, making it possible to practice various directional suturing and anastomosing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Beginners begin to practice suturing with larger diameter tubes (2.0 mm) and refine their skills using 1.0 mm diameter tubes as they get used to the practice. For vascular anastomosis, the card provides for end-to-end anastomosis, end-to-side anastomosis, and side-to-side anastomosis. Furthermore, superfine diameter tubes (0.5 and 0.3 mm) help microsurgeons to gain experience at higher magnifications. Training on this card is performed through a plastic box with a small hole using long microinstruments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microvascular Practice Card is a new training tool for repeatedly practicing microvascular anastomosis in various situations. This non-animal practice tool would help trainees practice under safe and hygienic conditions and reduce the number of laboratory animals used during technical training.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan. sanataka@pk.ctt.ne.jp
authors.forename: Nobuhisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: Nakamasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Horie
authors.forename: Shunrou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Endo
mesh_terms: D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000193:education* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000193:education* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012828:Silicones; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones