Introducing a Realistic, Low-Cost Simulation Model for Clipping of Brain Aneurysms

Abstract

Background: The current trend toward endovascular treatment of brain aneurysms may have a negative impact on young neurosurgeons who are less exposed to these lesions, thus affecting the acquisition of surgical skills in the field. Different training models have emerged to help cope with this issue, but these have specific pitfalls. Training models based on live animals or cadaveric specimens face increasing restrictions as regulations become a barrier in accessibility for everyday skills development. We introduce a novel, realistic, and inexpensive simulation model using a fresh bovine brain, and we assess its face and content validity as a training tool.

Methods: A fresh bovine brain is used to simulate microsurgical fissure dissection. Arterial and aneurysmal components are created with arteries and veins harvested from chicken thigh. A 12-item questionnaire using the Likert numeric scale (grades 1 - 5) was used to assess the validity of model in 10 surgeons.

Results: Ten neurosurgeons performed the simulated clipping of the aneurysm and completed a questionnaire. All surgeons surveyed responded "agree" or "strongly agree" that the simulator, and the skills trained with it, are comparable to clipping brain aneurysms. All respondents believed that this simulator could improve patient safety.

Conclusions: We present a novel, realistic, and inexpensive simulation model for the clipping of brain aneurysms. This model was partially validated by the opinion of field experts. We believe this model has the potential to become a useful training tool for young neurosurgeons who have little exposure to real aneurysm cases.

Keywords: Aneurysm; Bovine brain; Microsurgery; Neurosurgery; Simulation; Training.