Learning on animal models: a 16-year experience with the theoretical-practical course on surgery of polytrauma

The aim of this paper was to highlight, the important features of this course: - an update on the pathophysiology of the trauma patient, on the common maneuvers of damage control surgery and their indications, on surgical techniques and their rationale in the various regions of the body, and indications and modalities of non-operative treatment (NOM); - participants test their knowledge and skills through an interactive approach, considering the resources of the hospitals of origin; - an extremely realistic approach to trauma surgery and likewise a possibility to observe and test, "in the field", products such as topical hemostatic agents, which are frequently used in this kind of surgery. KEY WORDS: Animal models, Training simulation.