An economical training model to teach and practice deep inferior epigastric artery perforator dissection.

Abstract

Modern surgical training has placed a larger focus on procedural competency base training for surgical specialties. Although various simulators are in existence to teach laparoscopic skills, plastic surgery has a paucity of surgical training models. We developed a low-cost teaching model for the steps and techniques required in the deep inferior epigastric perforator flap and assessed the utility of this model with the resident surgeons using presurvey and postsurvey. A total of 13 residents participated in the surgical skill exercise. The residents felt this exercise increased their proficiency in the steps and techniques required for a deep inferior epigastric perforator flap harvest [4 (0.4)]. Overall, residents felt this exercise should be included in the postgraduate years 1 and 2 educational curriculum.