Surgical Training for Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision in a Live Animal Model: A Preliminary Experience

In this preliminary experience, the feasibility and effectiveness of surgical training with an animal model for transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) were evaluated. The training was conducted in two experimental animal laboratories in Italy authorized by the Italian Ministry of Health, using female Danish Landrace pigs under the supervision of surgeons with extensive experience in TaTME, animal laboratory training and cadaver laboratory training. The procedure was divided into separate steps, and all the participants were guided step-by-step throughout the entirety of the procedure. During all the editions of the animal laboratory, all the procedures were completed with no major damage to the anatomical structures or intraoperative death of the animals. Live animal tissue is very similar to human tissue, helping trainees improve their tactile feedback. The bleeding effect improved the value of the training and taught the participants how to address this complication. The lack of mesorectal tissue in pigs compared with humans was the main difference. Animal laboratories should not be considered alternatives to cadaver laboratories but as complementary training activities due to their effectiveness and lower costs. Surgical training in animal models for TaTME seems to be effective and could be an opportunity to improve training alongside the use of a cadaver laboratory and proctoring.