Training of Microanastomosis with Chicken Wing Brachial Artery

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Microsuturing is a difficult job for beginners of microsurgery. It is because they are not familiar with microscopic environment and, it needs much time for them to get used to microanastomosis. Before the real microsurgery, sometimes a surgeon wants rehearsal. But, microsurgical exercise has been performed with surgical glove, silastic drain or rat femoral artery. Rat femoral artery is a very good training material. But, it needs animal laboratory, anesthesia and its keeping facilities. And the surgeon should appoint the time to exercise with the laboratory. METHODS: We used chicken wing brachial artery for education material of microsuturing. The artery is 5cm long and the diameter is about 1mm. Monofilament 10-0 was used for suture material. RESULTS: Six persons of Seoul National University medical school students and one resident attended in this program. Each of them performed arterial anastomosis ten times. They were satisfied with chicken wing brachial artery for anastomosis training under the magnification environment. CONCLUSION: We think that chicken wing brachial artery is a very cheap and an effective training material for the beginners of microsurgery.