3D-Printed silicone anatomic patient simulator to enhance training on cardiopulmonary bypass.
BACKGROUND
Simulator training is important for teaching perfusion students fundamental skills associated with CBP before they start working in the clinic. Currently available high-fidelity simulators lack anatomic features that would help students visually understand the connection between hemodynamic parameters and anatomic structure. Therefore, a 3D-printed silicone cardiovascular system was developed at our institution. This study aimed to determine whether using this anatomic perfusion simulator instead of a traditional "bucket" simulator would better improve perfusion students' understanding of cannulation sites, blood flow, and anatomy.


METHODS
Sixteen students were tested to establish their baseline knowledge. They were randomly divided into two groups to witness a simulated bypass pump run on one of two simulators - anatomic or bucket - then retested. To better analyze the data, we defined "true learning" as characterized by an incorrect answer on the pre-simulation assessment being corrected on the post-simulation assessment.


RESULTS
The group that witnessed the simulated pump run on the anatomic simulator showed a larger increase in mean test score, more instances of true learning, and a larger gain in the acuity confidence interval.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the small sample size, the results suggest that the anatomic simulator is a valuable instrument for teaching new perfusion students.