Construction and Evaluation of a Ballistic Gelatin-Based Simulator for Transcervical Chorionic Villus Sampling

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Prenatal Diagnostics
• Surgical Training

Background:

• Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a vital prenatal diagnostic technique.
• A decrease in CVS procedures presents a significant challenge for training healthcare professionals.
• There is a need for effective and accessible training methods for CVS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel transcervical CVS simulator.
• To assess the fidelity and training utility of the ballistic gelatin simulator.
• To provide an alternative training modality for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) fellows.

Main Methods:

• A transcervical CVS simulator was constructed using ballistic gelatin.
• Ninety-three MFM providers participated in hands-on workshops utilizing the simulator.
• Participants completed surveys to rate the simulator's fidelity and usefulness.

Main Results:

• The simulator achieved high median scores for ultrasound image fidelity (5/5).
• Haptic feedback fidelity also received a high median score (5/5).
• The simulator was rated as highly useful for training (median score 5/5).

Conclusions:

• The ballistic gelatin CVS simulator demonstrates high fidelity and perceived usefulness.
• This simulator is a promising tool for enhancing CVS training for MFM fellows.
• It offers a valuable alternative training opportunity to address the declining number of procedures.