A high fidelity tissue-based cardiac surgical simulator

Abstract

The cardiac surgical simulation preparation described here would appear to be able to contribute positively to the training of residents in low-volume centres, as well as having the potential for application in other settings as a training tool or clinical skills assessment or accreditation device. Collaboration with larger centres is recommended in order to accurately assess the utility of this preparation as an adjunctive cardiothoracic surgical training aid.

“Top Gun” Competition: Motivation and Practice Narrows the Technical Skill Gap Among New Cardiothoracic Surgery Residents

“…A range of low-fidelity and high-fidelity models have been considered for use [2][3][4], including simple to lifelike synthetic models, explant tissues, and cadaver or animal tissues. An annual "boot camp" has been established to provide CT fellows an opportunity to train on available models [5,6].…”

Effect of training on patient outcomes following lobectomy

“…There is a current trend to focus on the importance of wet-labs and simulation in surgical training. 11 However, surgical skills require the integration of decision making and mechanical processes. 12 Wet-labs are invaluable in imparting the basic surgical skills and maximising the trainee's time in acquiring and perfecting new techniques.…”

Training and assessment of technical skills and competency in cardiac surgery

“…Biologic tissue Synthetic material Simulated tasks Tokuda and Song [9] No Yes Coronary artery anastomosis Izzat and colleagues [10] No Yes Coronary artery anastomosis Wilasrusmee and colleagues [13,14] Yes Yes Arterial-venous fistula with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Arterial-venous fistula creation in human patients Fann and colleagues [11] No Yes Coronary anastomosis (stationary and beating heart) Fann and colleagues [12] Yes Yes Coronary anastomosis 'Boot Camp' (stationary heart) Hance and colleagues [7] Yes Yes Femoral artery dissection Aortic cannulation Coronary artery bypass graft anastomosis Ramphal and colleagues [15,16] Yes No 'Skin-to-skin' simulated reality Coronary anastomosis (stationary and beating heart) Aortic valve replacement (prosthetic, homograft and pulmonary autograft) Sidhu and colleagues [8] Yes Yes Anastomosis of plastic graft to plastic tube or cadavaric brachial artery. Anastomosis of plastic graft to femoral artery of live pig.…”