[Human patient simulators for training in emergency surgery : Needs, status quo and potential]

Surgical providers must maintain currency and competency for low-volume high-risk procedures for optimal outcomes. There are currently a number of methods available to train for these rare but vital skills, ranging from simple to complex and inexpensive to expensive. Traditionally, these skills have been taught using human cadaveric and animal models, which are limited by availability (cadavers) and social acceptability (animals). As such, there is a need to utilize advances in educational and simulation technologies to refine and develop consensus-based, validated, tissue-realistic, anatomically correct and cost-effective training tools to teach these vital skills. Partially perfused human cadavers have recently been shown to be an important adjunct to established trauma training. Human patient simulators (HPS) and the associated technology is rapidly expanding, but currently lack consistent realism to be used for competence training, when compared to traditional models and are currently cost-prohibitive. It will be important for surgical trainers and trainees to remain engaged and facilitate the development of realistic cost-effective training tools.