Manufacture of a Multi-Purpose Low-Cost Animal Bench-Model for Teaching Tracheostomy

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Simulation
• Anatomy Training

Background:

• Tracheostomy is a frequent procedure with outcomes influenced by operator skill.
• A significant gap exists in standardized training for tracheostomy procedures.
• Current training methods may not adequately prepare practitioners for real-world scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the creation of a novel, low-cost, multi-purpose animal bench-model for tracheostomy simulation.
• To evaluate the anatomical realism and training utility of this bench-model through expert feedback.

Main Methods:

• Development of a low-cost animal bench-model for tracheostomy simulation.
• Manufacturing process detailed with video and image support.
• Questionnaire-based evaluation administered to ten experienced tracheostomy professionals.

Main Results:

• The model construction time was 15 minutes, with a cost of approximately 10€.
• Average scores: 3.45/5 for anatomical realism, 4.75/5 for training usefulness.
• Experts deemed the model a very useful simulator for tracheostomy training and assessment.

Conclusions:

• The developed animal bench-model is a cost-effective and practical tool for tracheostomy simulation.
• This simulator can enhance medical courses and residency programs by improving procedural training.
• It offers a valuable resource for skill acquisition and assessment in tracheostomy procedures.