Ex vivo ovine model for teaching open laryngotracheal surgery

OBJECTIVE: To develop an animal model for teaching open laryngotracheal surgical procedures. METHODS: The heads and necks from 5 pre-pubescent sheep were harvested after humane anesthesia. After 2–5 days to allow for rigor mortis to resolve, a specimen was supported with sandbags on an operating table. Operative procedures including tracheotomy, medialization laryngoplasty, anterior cartilage grafting, tracheal resection with primary anastomosis, and laryngectomy with closure of the pharynx were attempted. RESULTS: The ovine head and neck provided an accurate model for simulation of all attempted procedures. Ovine tissue resembled that of humans in mechanical properties and handling. Postsurgical endoscopy confirmed graft alignment. CONCLUSIONS: The sheep head and neck provides an inexpensive, realistic, and safe model for surgical training for a variety of open laryngotracheal procedures. This is particularly relevant given the recent emphasis on surgical simulation and the relative rarity of some of these procedures in residency training.