Human placenta provides an inexpensive, widely available, convenient biological tissue that can be used to create models of cerebral aneurysms of different morphologies. Neurosurgical trainees may benefit from the preoperative use of a realistic model to gain familiarity and practice with critical surgical techniques for treating aneurysms.

N euroiNterveNtioNal procedures have become a significant asset in the treatment of cerebrovascular disorders. Training in these techniques requires several years of dedicated study to develop an understanding of and the haptic feel for catheter navigation and interventional treatments. However, medicolegal concerns and work hour restrictions may limit the experience trainees receive. Simulators allow trainees to improve their technical expertise and also allow physicians and industry to collaborate in the development of innovative devices. 3The ideal training model should be inexpensive, readily available, and have haptic characteristics similar to those encountered in the endovascular treatment of human disorders. Animal and computer-based models have been developed for this purpose. 3,5,7 While each model has certain advantages and disadvantages, it is difficult to reproduce all the haptic qualities necessary for these procedures using virtual simulators or animal models.4,6-8 Thus, it is necessary to continue to develop and research new techniques for neurointerventional training. In this article, we abbreviatioNs GDC = Guglielmi detachable coil; HP = human placenta. obJective The development of neurointerventional treatments of central nervous system disorders has resulted in the need for adequate training environments for novice interventionalists. Virtual simulators offer anatomical definition but lack adequate tactile feedback. Animal models, which provide more lifelike training, require an appropriate infrastructure base. The authors describe a training model for neurointerventional procedures using the human placenta (HP), which affords haptic training with significantly fewer resource requirements, and discuss its validation. methods Twelve HPs were prepared for simulated endovascular procedures. Training exercises performed by interventional neuroradiologists and novice fellows were placental angiography, stent placement, aneurysm coiling, and intravascular liquid embolic agent injection. results The endovascular training exercises proposed can be easily reproduced in the HP. Face, content, and construct validity were assessed by 6 neurointerventional radiologists and 6 novice fellows in interventional radiology. coNclusioNs The use of HP provides an inexpensive training model for the training of neurointerventionalists. Preliminary validation results show that this simulation model has face and content validity and has demonstrated construct validity for the interventions assessed in this study.

Human placentas are useful haptic models to simulate brain tumor microsurgical removal. Results using this model demonstrate face, content, and construct validity.