title: A Bone Marrow Aspirate and Trephine Simulator.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bone marrow aspirate and trephine (BMAT) biopsy is a commonly performed procedure in hematology-oncology practice. Although complications are uncommon, they can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Simulation models are an excellent tool to teach novice doctors basic procedural skills before performing the actual procedure on patients to improve patient safety and well-being.
  
  
  METHODS
  There are no commercial BMAT simulators, and this technical report describes the rationale, technical specifications, and construction of a low-cost, easily constructed, reusable BMAT simulator that reproduced the tactile properties of tissue layers for use as a teaching tool in our resident BMAT simulation course. Preliminary data of learner responses to the simulator were also collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From April 2013 to November 2013, 32 internal medicine residents underwent the BMAT simulation course. Eighteen (56%) completed the online survey, 11 residents with previous experience doing BMAT and 7 without experience. Despite the difference in operative experience, both experienced and novice residents all agreed or strongly agreed that the model aided their understanding of the BMAT procedure. All agreed or strongly agreed that this enhanced their knowledge of anatomy and 16 residents (89%) agreed or strongly agreed that this model was a realistic simulator.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present a novel, low-cost, easily constructed, realistic BMAT simulator for training novice doctors to perform BMAT.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (E.S.Y., C.H.N., S.D.M., Y.L.C.); Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore (P.L.K.); and Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (P.L.K.).
authors.forename: Eng Soo
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: Pei Lin
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Chin Hin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Mel
authors.forename: Yen Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chee
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education*; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D008348:Manikins; D008954:Models, Biological; D000066908:Simulation Training / Q000379:methods*