An Accessible Nephrectomy and Cystotomy Simulator for Use in Teaching Small Animal Surgery

The use of simulators in veterinary education has been increasing over the last few years. This is fundamental for surgical classes, as simulators can provide a better learning environment for the students. Two procedures commonly taught in veterinary surgical practical classes are nephrectomy and cystotomy. However, the lack of simulators for use in these classes limits the training options to the use of cadavers, which have a number of associated disadvantages, including the potential for autolysis. The aim of this study was to develop and assess the value of a simple nephrectomy and cystotomy simulator that could replace the use of cadavers in surgical practical classes. The simulator, which represented the abdominal cavity, bladder, kidneys, ureter, vessels and adipose tissue, was constructed by using synthetic materials. To evaluate its usefulness and acceptance by the students, the learning outcomes and student satisfaction, for both the simulator and an ethically sourced dog cadaver, were compared. The students completed a Likert scale questionnaire, and the answers were evaluated by using the Diagnostic Content Validation (DCV) model. The simulator was well accepted by the students, with the best scores achieved for the ureter divulsion and ligation procedures; good results were also recorded for the kidney vessel ligature and urinary bladder suture practice. The scores showed that the simulator provided an acceptable experience during the training process and increased the confidence of the students in performing the procedure.