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. 2025 Jul 18:40:e404725.
doi: 10.1590/acb404725. eCollection 2025.

Pericardiocentesis simulation model: conception and development

Yury Tavares de Lima  1 , Larissa Holanda Gomes  1 , Luiza Matias Marques  1 , Igor Castelo Branco Fontenele Costa  1 , Pedro Henrique Araújo Marques  1 , Josue Viana Castro  1
Affiliations

Pericardiocentesis simulation model: conception and development

Yury Tavares de Lima et al. Acta Cir Bras. .

Abstract

Purpose: To develop a pericardiocentesis (PCT) simulation model applied for undergraduate medical training.

Methods: A PCT simulator consisted of a torso mannequin, a silicone rubber heart (SRH), a container, and a filling system. The mannequin was submitted to a coronal section and an 18 × 18-cm precordial area opening. The SRH was prepared in accordance with structural dimensions of a normal heart. The elaboration of a structure container to simulate the pericardial cavity consisted of a non-leakable unit inside a cardboard (PcavBox). The PcavBox filling system was connected to a 10-mm diameter tube and a total of 2.5 L of saline solution. This structure was adapted inside the mannequin and covered with a thermoformable rubber material of 2 mm in skin color. For PCT simulation, we used a 10-mL syringe connected to a 14G needle for an imaging guided puncture facilitated by a portable ultrasound.

Results: A SRH was successfully developed and fixed inside the Pcav Box, connected to the fluid pressure system. It was able to simulate a cardiac tamponade scenario identified by ultrasound. A series of 50 punctures was successively performed without liquid leak.

Conclusion: A low-cost PCT simulator was developed and coan be applied to healthcare education.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: Nothing to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. PCavBox structure sketch.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Process of making a life-size heart mold, made of silicone, using an anatomical piece. The still-liquid silicone and the anatomical piece were inserted into a rectangular mold. After drying, the block was cut in half, used as a mold for making a silicone heart.. (a) Modeling structure used to elaborate the silicone rubber heart. (b) Filled with red Siq Pasta Silbor.
Figure 3
Figure 3. A rectangular mold made from cardboard serves as a template for making the hollow piece that holds the heart and will be filled with liquid, simulating the pericardial space. (a) PcavBox final aspect and (b) mounted in a mannequin torso.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Silicone rubber heart.
Figure 5
Figure 5. PcavBox assembly process, with one of the halves open demonstrating the positioning of the heart before closing the rectangular piece, until the final appearance of the simulator. (a) The silicone rubber heart inside the lower cavity of the PcavBox. (b) Hidrostatic PcavBox system. (c) Final aspect of the ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis simulator.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Puncture test of the finished structure, using a portable ultrasound, demonstrating the internal visualization of the assembly, and the external appearance of the puncture area.(a) Ultrasound imaging sample, (b) puncture site and retrieval of the liquid.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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