Intracerebral hemorrhage cadaver model for training in hematoma evacuation under endoscopy

Neuroendoscopic surgery has been performed as an effective method for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study describes the know-how of constructing the ICH cadaver model and the training on the main neuroendoscopic procedures for ICH. During the training, operation time of twenty trainees in main stages of craniotomy and corticotomy (stage 2), and hematoma evacuation under endoscopy (stage 3) was recorded. To distinguish factors influencing trainees' surgical proficiency, operation time was calculated according to seniority, experience in neuroendoscopic surgery and training sequence. Questionnaire about validity of model was conducted eventually. Ten ICH cadaver models with bilateral hematoma were constructed. Seven trainees worked with seniority >5 years and eleven had experience in neuroendoscopic surgery. Operation time ranged from 20.6 to 33.4 min in stage 2 and 18.5 to 24.9 min in stage 3. In stage 2, less operation time was needed for trainees with seniority >5 years comparing to trainees with seniority ≦5 years (22.56 ± 1.29 vs 29.25 ± 3.02 min, p < 0.01). In stage 3, significant difference of operation time was found between trainees with experience in neuroendoscopic surgery and trainees without the experience (20.08 ± 1.22 vs 22.02 ± 1.82 min, p = 0.014), and the same between trainees in latter group and in former group (19.75 ± 0.80 vs 22.54 ± 1.45 min, p < 0.01). Questionnaire feedback proved high degree of satisfaction about the training model. Therefore, the ICH cadaver model can assist neurosurgeons with neuroendoscopic treatment learning sessions. Simulation and improvement in neuroendoscopic surgical techniques for ICH treatment were possible with the help of ICH cadaver model.