Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2025
Creation of a High-Fidelity, Low-Cost, Intraosseous Line Placement Task Trainer via 3D Printing
Published on: August 17, 2022
Unleashing surgical skills: Ultra-high fidelity trauma thoracotomy training on knowledge donor platform
Kayla E Gray1, Agnes Premkumar2, Mikaela G Mahrer1
1Department of Trauma Surgery, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Background:
Resuscitative thoracotomies are a time-sensitive emergency surgical procedure with an immediate risk of mortality. We hypothesize that a high-fidelity whole-body donor simulation model, referred to as a Knowledge Donor (KD), with mechanical lung ventilation and expired human blood perfusion could increase learner confidence in performing this critical procedure.
Methods:
General surgery residents and faculty were invited to participate in KD training. Surveys were collected to track participation and confidence.
Results:
Simulated resuscitative thoracotomies were performed involving PGY levels I-IV. Mean confidence was highest for residents with both KD and Live Patient experience (5.6 ± 1.7), followed by Live Patient only (4.3 ± 2.5), and KD only (2.6 ± 1.3). The mean confidence rating for residents with neither training opportunity was 1.4 ± 1.0.
Conclusions:
The KD platform is a hyper-realistic training modality that closely replicates live surgery. This platform allows residents to practice complex surgical procedures in a safe environment, without risking patient safety. This pilot program yielded early results in improving resident procedural confidence for high-risk surgical procedures, specifically resuscitative thoracotomies.
