Microsurgery Training with a Commercial Smartphone Kit - a new Device

Abstract

Microsurgical dissection and suturing techniques require persistent practice and perseverance. Rookies in particular often practice on the "dry model" in order to achieve a smooth transition to the application on the patient in the surgical theatre. Whether surgical glove, pig heart, with magnifying glasses, as a virtual reality tool, rat model with or without a training microscope - many different exercise models are described. For a number of years, self-made devices with smartphone cameras as a magnifying aid have also been known and are sometimes used. There is now a new commercial system from the US which allows the trainee to learn basic microsurgical techniques at any time and almost anywhere, or to perfect advanced knotting techniques such as the "through-the-loop" knot relatively easily and inexpensively. For this purpose, a conventional smartphone can be clamped in a 3 D swivel arm and anastomoses can be practiced on various vessel lumens. The smartphone therefor mimics a surgical microscope. There are prefabricated "cards" with built-in small plastic tubes of various diameters (1-3 mm) that can be used for practice.We believe that in the future such training kits can be part of the standard reporting in microsurgical training for interns and students in microsurgical centers.