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Laparoscopic training on Thiel human cadavers: A model to teach advanced laparoscopic procedures

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Abstract

Background

Nowadays, the laparoscopic approach represents the gold standard for a wide range of various basic and advanced procedures. To reduce the learning curve in advanced laparoscopic surgery, the search for new teaching tools is of utmost importance. Our experiences with a new teaching tool to train advanced laparoscopic procedures are reported.

Methods

Hands-on training courses in colon, hernia, bariatric and vascular surgery using Thiel human cadavers (THCs) were organised by the Swiss Association of Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic Surgery (SALTS). The courses were held by consultant surgeons expert in the field of minimal invasive surgery (MIS). At the end of each course, data was collected using a standardised, anonymous questionnaire using a Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree; 2 = disagree; 3 = neither agree nor disagree; 4 = agree; 5 = strongly agree). Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD), percentages (%) or total number (n), if indicated.

Results

From January 2005 to May 2006, six courses (colon = 2; hernia = 2; bariatric = 1; vascular = 1) were organized with a total of 33 participants (31 consultant surgeons; two senior residents). The authenticity of tissue colour, tissue consistency and operative tactility, respectively, were stated for the courses as follows: colon (mean: 4.4/4.2/4.2), hernia (mean: 4.3/4.2/4.0), bariatric (mean: 4.5/4.8/4.3) and vascular (mean: 2.8/2.8/2.6) courses. A high mean overall satisfaction with the courses (colon: 4.0; hernia: 4.2; bariatric: 5.0 and vascular surgery: 4.1) was also observed. All participants of the colon, bariatric, hernia and vascular courses will recommend the courses to other surgeons.

Conclusion

Training on THCs might be an excellent additional model to teach advanced bariatric, hernia and colon surgery. However, an important issue that remains to be defined is which training model (THC, anesthetized animals, virtual computer training, etc.) is the most appropriate for the curriculum of the skill or procedure that is being trained.

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Abbreviations

EAES:

European Association of Endoscopic Surgeons

LS:

Likert scale

MIS:

Minimal invasive surgery

SAGES:

Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons

SALTS:

Swiss Association of Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic Surgery

SETC:

SwissEndos Training Centre

SD:

Standard deviation

SSS:

Swiss Society of Surgeons

TAPP:

Transabdominal preperitoneal approach

TEP:

Totally extraperitoneal approach

THC:

Thiel human cadaver

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Acknowledgement

We thank Christian Gerber, David Stucki, and Panayotis Petropoulos as founders of the SETC in Fribourg, Switzerland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Hôpital Cantonal Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland

    Urs Giger, Isabelle Frésard, André Häfliger & Lukas Krähenbühl

  2. Swiss Association of Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic Surgery (SALTS), Aarberg, Switzerland

    Urs Giger, André Häfliger & Lukas Krähenbühl

  3. Anatomy Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland

    Mathias Bergmann

  4. Department of Visceral Surgery, Lindenhofspital Berne, CH-3001, Berne, Switzerland

    Urs Giger & Lukas Krähenbühl

Authors
  1. Urs Giger
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  2. Isabelle Frésard
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  3. André Häfliger
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  4. Mathias Bergmann
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  5. Lukas Krähenbühl
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lukas Krähenbühl.

Additional information

Urs Giger and Isabelle Frésard equally contributed to this work.

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Giger, U., Frésard, I., Häfliger, A. et al. Laparoscopic training on Thiel human cadavers: A model to teach advanced laparoscopic procedures. Surg Endosc 22, 901–906 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-007-9502-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-007-9502-7

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