Validation of an effective, easy-to-make hemostasis simulator

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Surgical Education
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Surgical training requires effective simulation tools for skill development.
• Cadaver training is effective but costly and has limited availability.
• Need for accessible, cost-effective simulators for surgical procedures like hemostasis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the construction of an inexpensive, easily produced hemostasis simulator.
• To compare the training effectiveness of this simulator against traditional cadaver training.
• To evaluate its utility in teaching basic open-surgery skills and hemostatic suturing.

Main Methods:

• Constructed a simulator using a manometer, saline bag, IV lines, stopcock, and Penrose drain.
• Ten final-year veterinary students performed 40 knots on the simulator and 40 on equine jejunal arteries.
• Participants completed a questionnaire comparing the simulator and cadaver training methods.

Main Results:

• The simulator received a median assessment score of 8.5/10, compared to 6.2/10 for cadaver practice.
• The simulator provided realistic haptic feedback, mimicking actual vessel closure.
• Student skills and confidence in placing hemostatic sutures significantly improved after training.

Conclusions:

• The cost-effective hemostasis simulator is a viable and preferred training tool compared to cadaver practice.
• It offers realistic tactile feedback and objective skill assessment for surgical trainees.
• The simulator is suitable for self-practice and teaching fundamental open-surgery skills.