Five really easy steps to build a homemade low-cost simulator

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Surgical Education

Background:

• Endoscopic surgery requires specialized training simulators.
• Commercial simulators can be expensive and cumbersome.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the simplicity of building a homemade, low-cost endoscopic surgery simulator.
• To assess surgeon satisfaction with the homemade simulator compared to commercial alternatives.

Main Methods:

• A 5-step construction scheme for a low-cost simulator (<€35) was provided to 26 surgeons.
• Participants built the simulator using common materials and scissors.
• Surgeons evaluated the simulator using training toys or ex vivo tissue and completed a comparative questionnaire.

Main Results:

• 84.6% of participants found the simulator "really easy" to build, with all feeling capable of replicating it.
• The homemade simulator was rated as easier to mount, dismount, transport, clean, and use for solo practice compared to commercial box simulators.

Conclusions:

• A functional and user-friendly endoscopic surgery simulator can be built at a minimal cost.
• Homemade simulators offer a practical and accessible training solution for surgeons.