Formaldehyde-free Embalmed Cadavers as a Training Tool in a Multimodal Structured Curriculum in Laparoscopic Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background

Within the competencies in education for general surgery residents, the development of Laparoscopic Surgery Skills is of the utmost importance. We evaluated the usefulness of cadavers preserved with a formaldehyde-free solution in the acquisition/development of Skills for Laparoscopic Surgery once basic skills have been developed.

Methods

This is a single-center, single-blind, randomized educational intervention clinical trial. Participants took a theoretical and practical module on the acquisition of skills in laparoscopy and took a pre-test focused on intracorporeal enterorrhaphy. Subsequently, they were randomized by blocks into 3 branches continuing their training in skill acquisition models, silicone models, or Formaldehyde-free solution preserved corpses, and finally they performed a post-test. Two blind experts evaluated participants using the GOALS and OSATS scales for laparoscopic surgery.

Results

N = 37 participants were obtained. No relationship was found between the branch and the results of the GOALS and OSATS tests in pre and post-test, which implies comparability between the training methods. Also, the Pillai’s Trace statistical test for the MANOVA (0.95, F(12, 54) = 4.0988, P < 0.05) and (0.66, F(2, 31) = 30.18, P < 0.05) indicates that the educational level of the participant does have a statistically significant association with the results obtained in the pre- and post-test.

Conclusions

Education and development of laparoscopic surgery skills using cadavers preserved with the presented formaldehyde-free solution is comparable to other simulation models for the acquisition of skills in minimally invasive surgery. Also, this tool improves the learning curve in subjects with no prior experience.