Training in basic microsurgical techniques without experiments involving animals

Until recently, anaesthetised rats have been the usual material employed for learning basic microvascular and microneurosurgical techniques. However, ethical considerations, the costs involved and legislation controlling experiments with animals allow training in microsurgery for extended periods of time at a few medical centres only. This paper reports on our experience of an alternative training programme largely conducted without using live animals. As the basic material we selected legs of slaughtered pigs. According to the developing skill of the trainee, basic microsurgical techniques can be practised on arteries and veins of various sizes in these legs. To verify positive results, the vessels are subsequently perfused with human blood under pressure. The model described is particularly suited to the acquiring of skills in microneurosurgery. Mono-, oligo-and polyfascicular nerves, structurally similar to the configurations found in human extremities, are found in pig legs. The ever-increasing importance of microsurgery in modern medicine requires more and more surgeons and orthopaedists to familiarize themselves with these techniques. The model we propose for teaching and training substantially facilitate such further professional training in an efficient way, and at the same time allows a substantial reduction in the number of experiments conducted on animals.