Efficacy of Teaching the Gambee Suture Pattern Using Simulated Small Intestine versus Cadaveric Small Intestine.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if instruction using simulated small intestine (SSI) is as effective as using cadaveric small intestine to teach the Gambee suture pattern to second year veterinary students.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, blinded study.

SAMPLE POPULATION: Second year veterinary students (n=59).

METHODS: Students were randomly assigned to groups using SSI or equine cadaver small intestine (CSI) to learn the Gambee suture pattern. The same educator, an experienced surgical instructor, instructed all students. Instruction consisted of verbal description of the technique with a schematic diagram followed by a demonstration. Students then practiced the technique with supervision and verbal feedback. One week later, 3 board certified surgeons experienced in surgical instruction evaluated each student suturing equine CSI and scored them using a rubric developed and validated for surgical skills assessment.

RESULTS: Fifty-nine students were enrolled (4 students were absent for the lab during which the assessment was performed; 55 students were available for evaluation). Of the 55 students evaluated, 26 were in the SSI group and 29 were in the CSI group. There was no significant difference between CSI and SSI groups in ability to perform the Gambee suture pattern using equine CSI 1 week following training.

CONCLUSION: SSI is as effective as equine cadaveric small intestine tissue to teach the Gambee suture pattern to second year veterinary students. If cadaver tissue is unavailable or undesirable, SSI could be used to instruct suture placement techniques.