Advanced surgical trauma care training with a live porcine model

Objective: To evaluate the benefit of a compulsory operative trauma care course for general surgeons in Norway utilising a live porcine model. Methods: The participants rated their expertise in 23 situations pre- and post-session on a scale 1-5, where 1 meant "not competent" and 5 meant "fully competent". Results: Mean total score increased 43% from pre- to post-session. The increase reached significance with all levels of experience. Procedures rarely performed, like suturing on a beating heart, showed a greater educational benefit than more frequently performed procedures, like inserting a chest tube. Conclusion: The operative trauma care animal session increased the participants' perceived competence significantly. Its use seems justified for education in trauma related lifesaving surgical procedures. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.