title: Design and development of low-cost tissue replicas for simulation of rare neonatal congenital defects.
abstract: Studies have shown that simulation can be a valuable tool for training pediatric surgeons to perform thoracoscopic repair of rare congenital anomalies [1-3]. The previously evaluated models were high fidelity, hybrid models that required the use of fetal bovine or porcine tissue blocks within a simulated neonate chest cavity. Real tissue blocks can be expensive, and may not be readily available in some parts of the world. We have developed low-cost, portable simulators for esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) and duodenal atresia (DA) that recreate the 3-dimensional challenges for minimally invasive repair. These are fully simulated models of the thoracic and abdominal cavities containing synthetic tissue that replicates the required anatomy.
authors.affiliation: Center for Education in Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University.
authors.forename: Ellen K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Hawkinson
authors.affiliation: Center for Education in Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University.
authors.forename: Lauren M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Center for Education in Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Barsness
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities; D003238:Connective Tissue; D003363:Cost Control; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional / Q000191:economics*; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D000066908:Simulation Training