Comparison of Commercial Versus Homemade Models for Teaching Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral I.V. Placement

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Ultrasound Technology

Background:

• Commercial and do-it-yourself (DIY) models are utilized for training emergency medicine residents and medical students in ultrasound (US)-guided intravenous (IV) insertion.
• While expensive commercial models degrade, DIY models offer a cost-effective, easily prepared, and disposable alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the hypothesis that DIY models are as effective as commercial models for teaching US-guided IV insertion.
• To subjectively evaluate the tactile and sonographic similarities of DIY and commercial models to human tissue using a controlled trial.

Main Methods:

• Three models were tested: a commercial US training block, a homemade tofu model, and a homemade gelatin model.
• Experienced emergency medicine residents and attendings performed peripheral IV placement under US guidance using each model and compared them to human tissue.
• Participants provided subjective feedback on tactile and sonographic properties, overall human similarity, and suitability for instruction.

Main Results:

• The gelatin model received significantly higher overall scores (visual and sonographic) compared to the tofu and commercial models.
• This indicates the gelatin model was perceived as the most anatomically accurate surrogate for human tissue.

Conclusions:

• Inexpensive, homemade alternatives to commercial simulators can serve as realistic and effective surrogates for learning ultrasound-guided peripheral IV insertion.
• DIY models, particularly the gelatin model, present a viable and cost-effective option for medical training in this procedure.