Chiaki Sato, PhD, Ken Koseki, MD, Yu Onodera, Hirotaka Ishida, Shota Maruyama, Hiroshi Okamoto, Takahiro Heishi, Tadashi Sakurai, Yusuke Taniyama, Takeshi Naito, Takashi Kamei, Prof, Michiaki Unno. Tohoku Unversity Graduate School Of Medicine, Department Of Surgery
Introduction: Surgeons have increasingly adopted thoracoscopic esophagectomy as an alternative to open esophagectomy. However, training opportunities for these techniques remain limited. Presently, most training methods for thoracoscopic esophagectomy use live porcines; this presents several problems including cost, long preparation times, and ethical issues. These problems further prevent frequent training. Currently, no alternative models for thoracocopic esophagectomy training. We report, for the first time, the development and use of a non-biomaterial training model for thoracoscopic esophagectomy.
Methods: We collaborated with Sunarrow Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) to develop the training model. We created organ models for esophagus, trachea, bronchus, aorta, vagus nerve, recurrent nerve, bronchial artery, lymph node, vertebrae, azygos vein, and thoracic duct, and filled the models with a polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel. The gaps between organs were filled with a filler material mimicking connective tissue. We chose a synthetic resin that closely mimics the characteristics (rigidity or elasticity) of each organ. After each organ was fixed, the model was covered with a filler to create a pleural membrane to allow training in peeling operations. In addition, because a patient plate was attached to the rear of the training model, excision with an energy device was possible and more closely simulated surgical conditions.
Results: Using the training model resulted in a highly satisfactory level of experience in three trainees. The trainees were able to learn anatomical positions and sequence of surgical procedures, including endoscope handling. The training model was sufficiently tough to withstand handling by untrained personnel.
Conclusions: The non-biomaterial training model developed in this study provides effective education and satisfactory training experiences in thoracoscopic esophagectomy.
Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.
Abstract ID: 85598
Program Number: P343
Presentation Session: iPoster Session (Non CME)
Presentation Type: Poster
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