Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy simulation and training with a new human cadaver model

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy is the gold standard for the treatment of early-stage lung cancer. The use of surgical models for training and simulation in minimally invasive surgery simulation is an integral part of surgical education and skills acquisition for residents, and also for more experienced surgeons.Live animals  are still the most frequently used realistic surgical models.  In this video tutorial, we demonstrate the use of a new human cadaver model with the aim of replacing the live animal model without compromising the fidelity of the simulation.  To prepare the cadaver, selective cannulation of the heart was performed to fill the pulmonary vessels with a gel used to improve the visibility and tactile feed-back of the vessels, and to simulate any bleeding complications. The complete cadaver was then used for the simulation, with all the same instruments and devices required in normal clinical practice, to demonstrate and practice both surgical and non-surgical skills for VATS lobectomy. In our opinion this model provides most of the features necessary for a valid surgical simulator and allows realistic training for VATS lobectomy. We believe that the cadaver model can be an effective alternative to anesthetized animals for VATS lobectomy training and simulation.