Microsurgical Training: A Review of Existing Methods and an Innovative Practice Model

Abstract

Surgery under magnification with the use of the operating microscope has seen great advances, and numerous surgical procedures today depend on optical magnification. Training (to impart basic skills) in microsurgery is particularly essential to enable surgeons to take their place in the surgical team and learn further as they progressively observe, assist, and in time, perform microsurgical procedures. Various materials and models are used and have been objectively assessed and validated for simulation in microsurgical training. One such model, the live animal model (with all its disadvantages), has been the “gold standard” for simulation in microsurgical training. We have identified and put into use a new tissue model for training in microvascular surgery – the chicken mesentery, which will offer a good practical solution where the live animal model is unavailable. Further studies using this model for training at various centers will be required for validation and comparison of this tool against existing methods.

Keywords

• chicken mesentery
• microsurgery training
• microvascular anastomosis