["Erlangen broncho-trainer" -- newly developed training model with physiological ventilation for interventional...

Biosimulation models have proved their value in numerous training courses for endoscopic procedures and play an important role in education and further training, as well as in the introduction of new techniques. In the field of interventional bronchoscopy, the level of realism is increased when biological lung tissue is available not only in a collapsed state, but also with physiological expansion.

A new modification of the well-known Erlangen Endo-Trainer has been developed, involving a transparent cover that provides airtight closure of the thoracic cavity. An integrated vacuum pump creates low pressure in the interior of the model. This allows a training lung from the pig to be fully expanded and "physiologically ventilated", with adjustable intermittent inspiration and expiration phases. The breathing and completely expandable biological training lung from the pig not only provides better anatomical orientation thanks to the lung's full three-dimensional expansion, but with the convincing and realistic quality of the tissue it also provides a good practice facility for various types of bronchoscopic intervention.

In an initial training course, the new system successfully allowed various diagnostic techniques to be practiced, such as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA), and peripheral forceps biopsies with transillumination guidance and interventional techniques such as foreign-body removal and electrocautery as well. These initial positive results are also encouraging for the future provision of training facilities in additional interventional techniques.