Development and use of low-fidelity, low-cost, animal tissue-based simulators for surgical training during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Background The Covid-19 pandemic severely affected surgical training as the number of surgeries being done was reduced to a bare minimum. Teaching and training of clinical skills on a simulator are desirable as they may have an even larger role during the Covid-19 pandemic. Commercially available simulators with optimum fidelity are costly and may be difficult to sustain because of their recurring cost. The development of low-cost simulators with optimum fidelity is the need of the hour. Methods We developed animal tissue-based simulators for imparting skills training to surgical residents on some basic and advanced general surgical procedures. Porcine tissue and locally available materials were used to prepare these models. The models were pilot-tested. Standard operating procedures were developed for each skill that was shared with the participants well before the 'hands-on' exercise. An online pre-test was conducted. The training was then imparted on these models under faculty guidance adhering to Covid-19-appropriate behaviour. This was followed by a post-test and participant feedback. The entire exercise was paperless. Results Sixty residents were trained in 10 sessions. Most of the participants were men (44; 73%). The mean pre-test and post-test scores were 40.92 (standard deviation [SD] 6.27) and 42.67, respectively (SD 4.06). Paired sample t-test suggested a significant improvement in the post-test score (p<0.001). The activity and the models were well appreciated by the residents. Conclusion The animal tissue-based indigenous models are easy to prepare, cost-effective and provide optimum fidelity for skill training of surgical residents. In addition to skill acquisition, training on such modules may alleviate the stress and anxiety of the residents associated with the loss of surgical training during a time-bound residency period.

Portfolio-based learning and assessment.

Assessment using portfolios has recently gained wider acceptance, and is being considered relevant to several educational aspects in medicine, including formative and summative assessment during resident training, revalidation and continuing professional development. In this article, we provide an overview of the use of portfolio as an assessment and learning tool. We have discussed the rationale of using portfolio in medical education, its advantages and criticisms, and some of the associated challenges and dilemmas.

Comparison of diagnostic peritoneal lavage and focused assessment by sonography in trauma as an adjunct to primary survey in torso trauma: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Lately, Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) is preferred over diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) as adjunct to primary survey. However, this is not evidence-based as there has been no randomized trial. METHODS: In this study, 200 consecutive torso trauma patients meeting inclusion criteria were randomized to undergo either DPL or FAST. The results were then compared with either contrast enhanced computerized tomography (CECT) (in patients managed non-operatively) or laparotomy findings (in patients undergoing operative treatment). Outcome parameters were: result of the test, therapeutic usefulness, role in diagnosing bowel injury and time taken to perform the procedure. RESULTS: Two hundred patients with a mean age of 28.3 years were studied, 98 in FAST and 102 in DPL group. 104 sustained blunt trauma and 76 sustained penetrating trauma due to stabbing. In addition, 38 (38.7%) were FAST positive and 48 (47%) were DPL positive (p=0.237, not significant). As a guide to therapeutically beneficial laparotomy, negative DPL was better than negative FAST. For non-operative decisions, positive FAST was significantly better than positive DPL. DPL was significantly better than FAST in detecting as well as not missing the bowel injuries. DPL took significantly more time than FAST to perform. CONCLUSION: This study shows that DPL is better than FAST.