A THORACIC DRAINAGE SIMULATOR FOR SMALL ANIMAL SURGERY TRAINING

Simulador de drenagem torácica para o treinamento de cirurgia em pequenos animais

Abstract

There is a growing interest in using simulators for training in veterinary surgery. However, there are few training aids available for thoracic drainage, which is an important technique. Therefore, this research aims to develop and validate a thoracic drainage simulator to support the surgical practice classes. This simulator was constructed with acrylic ribs covered with layers of silicone and synthetic tissue to simulate skin, subcutaneous, and muscle layers. To evaluate its effectiveness, it was compared to the standard cadaver training using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire. The questionnaire was completed by 25 veterinary students using this simulator during the practical classes on the surgical rotation. The students responded positively to most questions, indicating that the simulator performed well when compared to cadaver training. The answers were evaluated using the Diagnostic Content Validation (DCV) method. The questions that received the highest scores were related to the number of ribs (DCV= 0.79), the location of the incision on the skin (DCV= 0.77), and the amount of fluid drainage (DCV= 0.81). The simulator was found to be useful for surgical practice classes, as it provided satisfactory training (DCV= 0.85) and increased students’ confidence (DCV= 0.85).

Keywords: Alternative methods; Learning curve; Skills training; Thoracocentesis; Thoracostomy tube insertion.