Enhancing neonatal thoracoscopic surgical training with rabbit model.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Neonatal Surgery

Background:

• Thoracoscopy is increasingly vital for neonatal surgical conditions.
• Adequate training is essential for performing thoracoscopic procedures.
• Current training methods may require enhancement for neonatal applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of using live rabbit models for neonatal thoracoscopic skills training.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of this training model among paediatric surgeons.

Main Methods:

• Paediatric surgeons participated in didactic lectures and hands-on thoracoscopic procedure practice.
• Training effectiveness was measured using pre-/post-course procedural confidence scores and questionnaires.
• Live rabbit models were utilized for simulation of neonatal thoracoscopic procedures.

Main Results:

• 13 paediatric surgeons (trainees and fellows) participated.
• Significant improvement in procedural confidence was observed for both assistant and chief surgeon roles post-workshop.
• Participants rated the live rabbit model positively for its realism and reproducibility.

Conclusions:

• Live rabbit models provide a realistic and reproducible platform for neonatal thoracoscopic skills training.
• This training model significantly enhances paediatric surgeons' procedural confidence.
• Integrating this model into surgical curricula can improve proficiency in neonatal operations.