Surgical Abdominal Wall (SAW): a novel simulator for training in ventral hernia repair

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) is a relatively common procedure that requires advanced minimally invasive surgical skills to perform. The role for simulation is increasingly supported as an effective way to teach surgical skills and accelerate the learning curve. This article describes The University of Maryland's Surgical Abdominal Wall, an inexpensive procedure-specific physical simulator for LVHR, and summarizes the authors' early experiences using this model in a curriculum for surgery residents.