Surgical training is an essential part in the learning process of a surgeon. The learning curve is particularly long for open laryngeal surgery, namely total laryngectomies and open partial horizontal laryngectomies (OPHL). Even though fresh human cadaver models are the gold standard for surgical training, their availability is limited and might be further restricted by financial or regulatory issues. Animal cadaver models constitute therefore a valid alternative in terms of ease of finding and cost. Ovine specimens are the most suitable animal model for head and neck surgery. A 6-month-old lamb larynx has very similar dimensions to human one. The main differences are that the arytenoid cartilages are bigger, there is no thyroid cartilage notch, laryngeal ventricle is absent, and the upper part of the larynx is narrower. However, these differences are marginal in terms of suitability for surgical training. The specimen should include the whole neck up to thoracic inlet so that most of the trachea is included. It must be prepared and stored at −18° and then thawed 24 h before the dissection. The neck of the ovine should be sheared up to the mandible to have a clean skin. Ovin model is suitable to be included in residency and young surgeons’ training programs being lifelike, low-cost, and easily available.

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Surgical Training on Animal Model for Open Laryngeal Surgery

  • Francesco Maccarrone,
  • Matteo Fermi,
  • Michael Ghirelli,
  • Andrea Martone,
  • Costanza Galloni,
  • Edoardo Bassano

摘要

Surgical training is an essential part in the learning process of a surgeon. The learning curve is particularly long for open laryngeal surgery, namely total laryngectomies and open partial horizontal laryngectomies (OPHL). Even though fresh human cadaver models are the gold standard for surgical training, their availability is limited and might be further restricted by financial or regulatory issues. Animal cadaver models constitute therefore a valid alternative in terms of ease of finding and cost. Ovine specimens are the most suitable animal model for head and neck surgery. A 6-month-old lamb larynx has very similar dimensions to human one. The main differences are that the arytenoid cartilages are bigger, there is no thyroid cartilage notch, laryngeal ventricle is absent, and the upper part of the larynx is narrower. However, these differences are marginal in terms of suitability for surgical training. The specimen should include the whole neck up to thoracic inlet so that most of the trachea is included. It must be prepared and stored at −18° and then thawed 24 h before the dissection. The neck of the ovine should be sheared up to the mandible to have a clean skin. Ovin model is suitable to be included in residency and young surgeons’ training programs being lifelike, low-cost, and easily available.