Improved ex vivo training model for percutaneous renal surgery

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Surgical Education
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Percutaneous endourological procedures demand advanced surgical skills.
• Existing ex vivo training models often suffer from material damage, hindering effective simulation.
• There is a need for realistic, cost-effective training tools for urological interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an improved porcine ex vivo model for training percutaneous endourological procedures.
• To enhance the fidelity of surgical simulation for interventions such as percutaneous nephrostomy and PCNL.
• To provide a training model that closely mimics human anatomy and tissue feedback.

Main Methods:

• Dissection of porcine kidneys and ureters from the retroperitoneal package.
• Encasement of kidneys within sections of porcine thoracic/abdominal walls.
• Simulation of hydronephrosis by filling the renal pelvis with saline and implantation of stones for PCNL training.

Main Results:

• The improved model provides a highly realistic simulation for puncturing due to anatomical similarities with the human thoracic/abdominal wall.
• The model facilitates training for a wide range of percutaneous endourological procedures, including percutaneous nephrostomy, PCNL, and endopyelotomy.
• Hands-on courses utilizing the model have reported great success, highlighting its effectiveness in improving "tissue feeling" and anatomical understanding.

Conclusions:

• The enhanced porcine ex vivo model offers superior training for percutaneous endourological procedures compared to non-biological alternatives.
• The model's anatomical accuracy, realistic tissue feedback, and versatility make it an invaluable tool for surgical education.
• This readily available and inexpensive model significantly advances the training capabilities for complex urological interventions.