An inexpensive, reproducible tissue simulator for teaching thoracoscopic lobectomy.
OBJECTIVE
Simulation is rapidly becoming an integral part of surgical education at all levels including the education of practicing surgeons in new techniques such as thoracoscopic lobectomy. Current thoracoscopic lobectomy simulator models have significant limitations including expense and requirement for specialized facilities. This study describes a novel low-cost, easily reproducible, bench top simulator.


METHODS
Tissue blocks consisting of a porcine heart and bilateral lungs with intact pericardium were secured from a commercially available source. The pulmonary artery and veins were statically distended with ketchup to more realistically mimic the technique of dissection and allow for simultaneous identification of technical errors.


RESULTS
This simulator has been used at seven different industry and society sponsored thoracoscopic lobectomy training programs by more than 100 participants. Qualitative data on the performance of the model was collected from faculty and course participants.


CONCLUSIONS
A low-cost porcine heart-lung block statically perfused with ketchup provides an inexpensive, easily reproducible model for teaching thoracoscopic lobectomy, which reasonably and accurately simulates a clinical experience.
Meyerson
Shari L
SL
Department of Surgery, Section of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA. smeyerson@surgery.arizona.edu
LoCascio
Frank
F
Balderson
Stafford Scott
SS
D'Amico
Thomas A
TA
D000818:Animals; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D006321:Heart; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D010477:Perfusion; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000193:education*; D013552:Swine; D013906:Thoracoscopy