🔍 Key Findings
- This study evaluated whether high-fidelity surgical simulator training improved live animal and student outcomes in a feline OHE teaching lab involving 186 cats and 146 students.
- Simulator training significantly improved surgical performance and outcomes:
- Live surgery was 6 minutes shorter on average in the SIM group vs. NO-SIM (115 ± 21 min vs. 121 ± 16 min, p = .04).
- Pain scores ≥5/20 occurred in 1% of SIM group cats vs. 15% of NO-SIM group cats (p < .01).
- Rescue analgesia was needed less frequently in the SIM group (5% vs. 15%, p = .03).
- Student confidence was significantly higher in the SIM group (median 7/10 vs. 6/10, p < .01).
- The simulator used a realistic abdominal model with friable tissues and required performance of a full OHE procedure.
- The study design was nonrandomized, grouped by class year, with limitations including lack of blinding during pain assessment in year two.
- Authors concluded that pre-lab simulator competency improves both animal welfare and student confidence, recommending it as a prerequisite for live surgical training.
