DESENVOLVIMENTO DE MODELOS DE APRENDIZAGEM EM SUBSTITUIÇÃO AO USO ANIMAL PARA ALUNOS DA DISCIPLINA DE TÉCNICA CIRÚRGICA VETERINÁRIA

Abstract

Becoming a surgeon requires the acquisition of knowledge and technical skills and undergoing continuous training. For many years, surgery has been taught using live animals; however, this practice is currently being discouraged worldwide because of the suffering caused to the animals. Although the use of live animals in classrooms has decreased, practical training is essential for the acquisition of surgical skills. Training can be initiated through directed studies, video lessons, the use of cadavers, virtual reality programs, and 3D-printed anatomical parts and mannequins. These devices range from low-fidelity models created from everyday materials to high-quality models using virtual reality–based mechanisms that are more realistic. This study assessed the acceptability of learning models other than the use of animals for teaching in the veterinary surgical technique course to disseminate knowledge. Materials and techniques used to construct learning models were described. A model was developed for training in ovariohysterectomy (OHE) and another model was developed for training in silicone skin sutures. It was also possible to simulate vascular ligatures using both prototypes. To validate the surgical mannequins, 78 students regularly enrolled in the veterinary surgical technique course and 5 veterinary surgeons from the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul participated in the study. The first step consisted of training in sutures and knots on practice materials and the bovine tongue. In the second stage, the students were invited to watch the lecturer demonstrate the three-clamp technique for OHE. In the following stages, the participants replicated the procedure in the following order: mannequin, cadaver, and live animal. At the end of each stage, the participants completed a questionnaire to evaluate their experience of each activity. More than 90% of the students stated that they would recommend training with silicone skin to other colleagues. More than 70% of the students stated that they would recommend the surgical mannequin for use in undergraduate veterinary medicine. Approximately 75% of the undergraduates approved the use of a mannequin before surgery on a live animal. Almost 80% of the students reported that the mannequin was useful in OHE surgical training. All veterinary surgeons who participated in the survey agreed on the importance of using the simulator before actual surgery. Results showed that the use of mannequins offers a series of scientific and practical benefits by allowing professionals to practice procedures in a controlled environment without putting patients at risk.