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Published on: September 29, 2018
A highly feasible simulation model based on nipple-preserving pork portions for practicing superficial mass resection
Piaopiao Jin1, Xiaoyu Weng2, Xiaoyu Zhang2
1Health Management Center, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China.
Background:
Superficial mass resection is a core surgical skill requiring practical training. Existing simulation models, such as silicone pads or virtual reality, are often costly or inaccessible, creating a need for an affordable and feasible alternative for surgical education.
Methods:
In this feasibility study, we developed a low-cost, high-fidelity simulation model using a rind-on pork belly with preserved nipples to practice this procedure and evaluated its efficacy in a skill training study involving 56 surgery residents, whose competency was assessed using a procedure-specific rating scale and the Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) tool.
Results:
The pork-based model effectively differentiated competency levels among residents with varying experience. It demonstrated superior fidelity compared to silicone models, without increased operational difficulty, proving particularly suitable for beginners.
Conclusions:
This pork-based simulation model is low-cost and easy to prepare, and it represents a high-fidelity training tool, highlighting the possibility of using biological models in hands-on surgical simulation.
