Preparation of low cost bronchopulmonary airway cast

Abstract

IntroductionThe study of tracheo-bronchial branching pattern and formation of bronchopulmonary segments is of great importance in understanding lung anatomy and physiology. While teaching this subject to first year medical students, teachers often take help of atlases and digital images. Preparation of a cast of tracheo-bronchial airways would be of great help to make the students understand the three-dimensional branching and relation between various segments of lungs and thus to better understand pulmonary anatomy. Materials and methodsThis article discusses a simple and very low cost method of preparation of bronchopulmonary airway cast by using LAPOX™ Epoxy resin and a goat lung which are comparatively cheaper and easily available. Results and conclusionMany different methods and materials are described in textbooks for the preparation of tracheo-bronchial casts. This method can be employed in institutes where major funding for better advanced methods are unavailable or for students themselves as a method of self-study.