Fresh frozen cadaver workshops for general surgical training

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Medical Training
• Anatomy Dissection

Background:

• Surgical proficiency relies heavily on training and experience.
• Reduced working hours and increased minimally invasive techniques limit hands-on surgical exposure for trainees.
• There's a growing need to maintain proficiency in open surgical procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the setup and execution of a cadaveric dissection workshop for surgical trainees.
• To evaluate the effectiveness and trainee satisfaction of the Core Skills Workshop.
• To assess the value of cadaveric training in modern surgical education.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of the Core Skills Workshop using fresh frozen cadavers for open procedures.
• Detailed logistics planning for workshop setup and operation.
• Trainee evaluation of the workshop's impact on surgical skills and expectations.

Main Results:

• 26 workshops conducted with 227 participants; 196 evaluations returned (86% response rate).
• Overwhelmingly positive feedback, with participants reporting the workshop met expectations and improved skillsets.
• High value placed on cadaveric dissection, low instructor-to-student ratios, and a stress-free learning environment.

Conclusions:

• Fresh frozen cadaver workshops are highly beneficial for surgical training.
• These workshops provide an efficient, effective, and safe method to address current training challenges.
• Cadaveric training is crucial for maintaining surgical competency in open procedures.