TuThor: an innovative new training model for video-assisted thoracic surgery

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Medical Simulation
• Thoracic Surgery

Background:

• Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) requires specialized training, but current platforms are limited and raise ethical concerns due to animal use.
• Developing effective and accessible training methods for VATS is crucial for improving surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a dedicated box trainer for VATS training that can realistically simulate bleeding scenarios.
• To provide an ethical and accessible alternative to animal models for surgical skills acquisition.

Main Methods:

• The Tuebingen Thorax Trainer was developed, featuring a human anatomy-like thoracic cavity with a porcine organ complex and a perfusion module for bleeding simulation.
• Standard thoracoscopic instruments are compatible with the trainer.
• The trainer's applicability was assessed through four 1-day VATS training courses, with participant feedback collected via questionnaires.

Main Results:

• Forty participants trained with the Tuebingen Thorax Trainer, with 87.5% deeming it adequate for VATS training.
• The ex vivo organ complex was rated as realistic in detail and scale by 76% of participants.
• A significant portion of participants (27.5%) had prior VATS experience, having performed over 50 procedures.

Conclusions:

• The Tuebingen Thorax Trainer provides a realistic platform for VATS procedure training, including reproducible bleeding scenarios via 'stagnant hydrostatic perfusion'.
• The device is cost-effective, closely mimics clinical scenarios, and reduces reliance on animal models.
• This innovation enhances the accessibility of surgical skills training for VATS.