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Published on: September 29, 2018
Advanced surgical trauma care training with a live porcine model
Christine Gaarder1, Paal A Naess, Trond Buanes
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ullevaal University Hospital, Kirkeveien 166, 0407 Oslo, Norway. tinagaar@online.no
Objective:
To evaluate the benefit of a compulsory operative trauma care course for general surgeons in Norway utilising a live porcine model.
Methods:
The participants rated their expertise in 23 situations pre- and post-session on a scale 1-5, where 1 meant "not competent" and 5 meant "fully competent".
Results:
Mean total score increased 43% from pre- to post-session. The increase reached significance with all levels of experience. Procedures rarely performed, like suturing on a beating heart, showed a greater educational benefit than more frequently performed procedures, like inserting a chest tube.
Conclusion:
The operative trauma care animal session increased the participants' perceived competence significantly. Its use seems justified for education in trauma related lifesaving surgical procedures.
