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Brief report on combat trauma surgical training using a perfused cadaver model
Daniel Grabo1, Travis Polk, Michael Minneti
1From the Department of Surgery (D.G.), West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia; Navy Trauma Training Center at LAC+USC Medical Center (T.P.); and Department of Surgery (M.M., K.I., D.D.), Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
A perfused fresh human cadaver model effectively trains forward surgical teams in complex combat casualty care. This simulation improves team dynamics and technical skills for critical interventions, though further validation is needed.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Education
- Trauma Care
- Medical Simulation
Background:
- Combat casualty care presents significant training challenges.
- Current high-fidelity simulations struggle to integrate complex trauma patient care intricacies.
- A novel perfused fresh human cadaver model is introduced for training and assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of a perfused fresh human cadaver model for training military forward surgical teams (FSTs).
- To assess the impact of this simulation on team dynamics and technical skills.
- To identify areas for model optimization and further validation.
Main Methods:
- Forward surgical teams participated in a 4-day combat trauma surgical skills course.
- A half-day simulation involved four sequential surgical scenarios (neck, chest, abdomen, extremities) with airway management and resuscitation.
- Teams underwent immediate debriefing and video review of performance metrics.
Main Results:
- FSTs showed improvements in team dynamics and technical skills evaluations over successive simulations.
- Significant variability was observed in the time to complete critical interventions, especially for cardiac and vascular injuries.
- The model demonstrated utility for high-acuity, low-volume procedures crucial in combat casualty care.
Conclusions:
- The perfused cadaver model shows promise for training and evaluating military FSTs in combat casualty care.
- Preliminary data support its use for critical procedures like open vascular and thoracic interventions.
- Further research is required for model optimization and validation of assessment tools.
