Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
A Training and Testing System for Performing Vascular Reconstruction In Vitro
Published on: October 26, 2019
Acquisition and 18-Month Retention of Vascular Anastomosis Skills in Medical Students after a 12-Hour
Killen H Briones-Zamora1, Cesar A Burgos Villamil2, Gustavo Orellana Sampedro3
1Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, Samborondón, Ecuador.
Background:
To evaluate vascular anastomosis skill acquisition after a 12-hr simulation-based vascular anastomosis bootcamp for novice medical students and assess technical skill retention approximately 18 months later without interim hands-on practice.
Methods:
A single-arm pilot educational intervention study was conducted with 25 first-year medical students from two universities in Ecuador with no prior suturing or vascular anastomosis experience. Participants completed a 12-hr bootcamp delivered in six 2-hr training sessions, followed by a separate immediate post-training summative assessment of complete end-to-end vascular anastomosis. Procedures were video-recorded and evaluated by a blinded cardiovascular surgeon using an adapted Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) scale. The predefined simulation-based performance threshold was defined as an OSATS score of ≥33/55 using a modified Angoff method. Follow-up assessment included only participants who reported no interim hands-on suturing or vascular anastomosis practice.
Results:
Normalized OSATS performance differed significantly across sequential curriculum stages (P < 0.00001). At the final assessment, median OSATS score was 34 (interquartile range [IQR] 28-37), median procedure time was 775 sec (IQR 750-850), mean number of sutures placed was 15.4 ± 2.5, and median intersuture distance was 1.9 mm (IQR 1.5-2.8). Overall, 19 of 25 participants (76.0%) reached the predefined simulation-based performance threshold. At follow-up, 18 participants were reassessed, and 8 of 18 (44.4%) remained above this threshold. Among paired participants, OSATS score was not significantly different from post-test (32.5 vs. 34; P = 0.2806), but procedure time increased, fewer sutures were placed, and suture spacing widened.
Conclusion:
A short simulation-based vascular anastomosis bootcamp supported early skill acquisition and partial 18-month retention. However, efficiency, precision, and simulation-based performance threshold classification declined over time, supporting future evaluation of refresher training, spaced practice, or overlearning strategies.
