Surgical model pig ex vivo for venous dissection teaching in medical schools

Abstract Purpose: To investigate a method for development of surgical skills in medical students simulating venous dissection in surgical ex vivo pig model. Methods: Prospective, analytical, experimental, controlled study with four stages: selection, theoretical teaching, training and assessment. Sample of 312 students was divided into two groups: Group A - 2nd semester students; Group B - students of 8th semester. The groups were divided into five groups of 12 students, trained two hours per week in the semester. They set up four models to three students in each skill station assisted by a monitor. Teaching protocol emergency procedures training were applied to venous dissection, test goal-discursive and OSATS scale. Results: The pre-test confirmed that the methodology has not been previously applied to the students. The averages obtained in the theoretical evaluation reached satisfactory parameters in both groups. The results of applying OSATS scale showed the best performance in group A compared to group B, however, both groups had satisfactory medium. Conclusion: The method was enough to raise a satisfactory level of skill both groups in venous dissection running on surgical swine ex vivo models.

Modelo biológico no vivo para la enseñanza de la técnica de venodisección en alumnos de pregrado de la carrera de medicina / Non-live biological model for the teaching of the venous cutdown technique to undergraduate medical students

Objetivo: Proporcionar material didáctico útil al estudiante y al médico general para conocer la técnica de venodisección en un modelo biológico no vivo. Sede: Departamento de Cirugía, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM. Diseño: Modelo de enseñanza. Material y método: Se proporcionan indicaciones, contraindicaciones, características anatómicas y técnica a considerar. Empleamos pata de cerdo como modelo didáctico por ser accesible en costos, disponibilidad y un modelo fácilmente reproducible por los alumnos. Por su semejanza con los eventos clínicos que suceden en los pacientes a nivel hospitalario, consideramos que representa un buen método de enseñanza de habilidades quirúrgicas en el pregrado. Conclusión: El actual modelo biológico es una opción viable y representativa de la venodisección; el alumno aprende a identificar al paciente que requiere de este procedimiento; una vez identificado, podrá realizar el procedimiento de manera adecuada evitando, en la medida de lo posible, cualquier tipo de complicación.

Objective: To provide teaching material useful for the medical student and the general physician to learn the venous cutdown technique in a non-live biological model. Setting: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, UNAM. Design: Teaching model. Material and method: Indications, contraindication, anatomical characteristics and technique to be considered will be provided. We use a pig foot as didactic model because it is accessible in terms of costs, availability, and can be reproduced easily by students. Due to its similarity with clinical events occurring in patients at the hospital level, we consider that it represents a good teaching method of surgical skills at the undergraduate level. Conclusion: The current biological model is a viable option and representative of venous cutdown. The student learns to identify the patient that requires this procedure, once identified he will be able to perform the procedure adequately avoiding, as much as possible, any type of complication.

The Usefulness of Cephalic Vein Cut-Down for Totally Implantable Central Venous Port in Children

The usefulness of totally implantable central venous port for long-term intravenous infusion is widely accepted in children. Usually the catheters are placed through the internal or external jugular vein. In case of jugular vein cut-down, two separate incisions are needed for catheter and port respectively. Patients also feel uncomfortable as the catheter run through the neck. However these disadvantages can be overcome by using the cephalic vein (CV). We reviewed our experiences on CV cut-down for totally implantable central venous port in children. From January 2002 to December 2006, 201 patients (M:F=127:74) underwent 218 central venous port insertions. Mean age at operation was 5.9 years (2 months - 19 years). Indications included chemotherapy (N=167), long-term intravenous antibiotics infusion (N=36), and total parenteral nutrition (N=15). CV was selected preferentially. The incision includes the deltopectoral triangle laterally, and both the CV cut-down and port insertion were achieved with a single incision. The number of insertion through external, internal jugular vein, and CV was 77, 66 and 75, respectively. The median age, height and body weight were higher in CV cut-down group. The youngest age for CV cut-down was 8 months, the shortest height was 69 cm and the smallest body weight was 5.9 kg. Of 118 trials of CV cut-down, cut-down was successful in 75 cases (63.6 %). CV was absent in 10 cases(8.4 %) and CV was sacrificed after catheter tip malposition in 10 cases (8.4 %). There was only one complication, in which the catheter was inserted into the minute branch of subclavian artery. The CV cut-down method for totally implantable central venous port was safe and feasible in selected groups of patients in children. In addition, preservation of jugular vein and a more favorable cosmetic effect are other benefits of CV cut-down.

A Safe Method of Central Venous Catheterization by Peripheral Venous Cutdown in Infants

Percutaneous infraclavicular subclavian catheterization has been widely used for a total parenteral nutrition, hemodynamic monitoring and for venous access in difficult clinical situations. Many authors have claimed the infraclavicular cannulation of the subclavian vein in the tiniest infants can be performed with safety and ease, but there are always possibility of serious complications in this method. We present our experiences of peripheral venous cutdown with Broviac catheter. Author routinely introduced Broviac catheter into central vein via peripheral venous cutdown. There was no life threatening complications and no catheter related death. The complication rate was very low. The catheter related sepsis was documented in only two patient(4.7%). The average catheter longivity was 19.59 days. In view of the safety and low rate of complication, we think that peripheral venous cutdown with Broviac catheter should be the method of choice when central venous access is neccesary in infants. The infraclavicular subclavian catheterization should be reserved in infants with few accessable peripheral vein.