Simulating aortic root replacement for a surgical wet laboratory in a resource-limited setting: an economical innovation

Traditional cardiac surgery residency programs rely mainly on teaching surgical skills in the operating room. The increasing complexity of cardiac surgical operations on high-risk patients and the time constraints placed on residents in this surgical discipline negatively impact the learning opportunities for those residents. Simulation models, though efficient, are very expensive. In Third World Countries, they are unavailable for trainees due to financial constraints. We have introduced an innovative and cost-effective way of simulating aortic root replacement in a wet laboratory by applying a hand-made valve conduit or ‘pencil conduit’ to a bovine heart. It is reproducible, easy to assemble, cost-effective and simple to use. It can help develop and enhance the surgical skills of residents and junior surgeons for this advanced operation, which requires a meticulous surgical technique performed within a limited time frame.