Making the Cut: Implementing a Low Cost, Low Fidelity Simulation Model for Teaching Emergency Thoracotomy Procedure

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Simulation
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Emergent thoracotomy is a critical but rarely performed procedure for trauma patients.
• Limited opportunities for practice lead to suboptimal resident performance and increased patient risk.
• Existing low-cost trainers lack anatomical accuracy and resemblance to actual surgical conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, low-cost, and anatomically accurate training model for emergent thoracotomy.
• To enhance emergency medicine residents' preparedness for performing this high-stakes procedure.
• To address the gap in practical surgical skill acquisition for rare emergency interventions.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a low-fidelity thoracotomy simulator using readily available materials from craft and home improvement stores.
• Evaluation of the model's anatomical accuracy and utility by emergency medicine residents.
• Assessment of resident comfort and familiarity with emergent thoracotomy post-simulation training.

Main Results:

• The developed low-cost model demonstrated significant anatomical accuracy.
• Residents found the training model helpful in mastering the emergent thoracotomy procedure.
• Post-training, residents reported increased comfort and familiarity with the surgical technique.

Conclusions:

• A low-cost, anatomically accurate emergent thoracotomy trainer can be effectively constructed.
• This simulation method improves resident confidence and preparedness for a rare, critical procedure.
• The model offers a viable solution for surgical skill acquisition in emergency medicine training programs.