Training in microvascular anastomosis - A randomized comparative study between chicken thigh specimen and live rat.
Research article published in Hand surgery & rehabilitation (2023)
Abstract
Training in microsurgical techniques on live rats is the gold standard, but raises ethical issues related to animal welfare and cost. The aim of this study was to compare acquisition of microsurgical techniques with primary training on chicken thigh specimens. Seventy six students were randomly assigned: 23 to exclusive rat training and 53 to primary chicken-leg training. Both groups were then evaluated on aortic suture and jugular aortic bypass surgery in live rats. The primary criterion for successful anastomosis was the patency test. The survival of the rat, the number of severe vascular wounds and the quality of the dissection were also assessed. Aortic anastomoses were of significantly better quality in the chicken group (p = 0.041). There was no significant difference in the number of serious injuries, rat mortality, or quality of dissection (p > 0.05). For jugular aortic bypass surgery, dissection quality (p = 0.02) and patency test (p = 0.05) were better in the chicken-leg group. There was no significant difference in number of severe wounds or rat mortality (p > 0.05). Students who started their microsurgical training on a chicken leg did not perform worse than those with exclusive live rat training. Initial training on chicken thigh specimens seems to be a reliable alternative to training on live models. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II - Randomized controlled trial.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Training in microvascular anastomosis - A randomized comparative study between chicken thigh specimen and live rat.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This randomized comparative study (Level II) assigned 76 students to either exclusive live-rat microsurgical training or primary chicken-thigh training, then evaluated both on aortic suture and jugular-aortic bypass in live rats, finding that the chicken-leg group performed at least as well, with significantly better aortic anastomosis quality (p=0.041) and better bypass dissection quality (p=0.02) and patency (p=0.05), and concluding chicken-thigh specimens are a reliable training alternative. It is relevant to hirudotherapy because medicinal leeching is most established as an adjunct in microsurgical and reconstructive procedures (flaps and replants prone to venous congestion), so anything that improves access to and quality of anastomosis training strengthens the surgical context in which leeches are used. Honest caveat: this is a surgical-education trial about training models, with no patient outcomes and no leech or hirudotherapy content; the connection is to the surgical setting, not to leech therapy directly.
Citation
Training in microvascular anastomosis - A randomized comparative study between chicken thigh specimen and live rat.
Fleurette et al. · Hand surgery & rehabilitation, 2023
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