This model effectively simulates omental vessel dissection in laparoscopic procedures, suggesting a new standard for surgical training.
Aims To produce a low-cost, sustainable, recyclable, non-biological model for simulation-based training in laparoscopic omental vessel dissection. Methods An omental surrogate was prepared by enclosing modelling balloons between two layers of psyllium/gellan ADAMgel (Aqueous Dietary fibre Antifreeze Mix gel) enclosed in low denier nylon as a peritoneal analogue. All components were integrated by heating under a flat iron. Results The psyllium husk/gellan ADAMgel combined to form an excellent analogue of omental tissue. The appearance, weight, and texture were accurate. Vessel dissection with surgical instruments was realistic. It transilluminates to highlight the location of the vessels. Afterwards the application of heat can reconstitute the model for further use. Conclusion This study demonstrates the feasibility of a low cost, sustainable, realistic, non-biological, recyclable tissue analogue for omentum in laparoscopic simulation training. This model can be easily and cheaply assembled with none of the ethical and logistical barriers of biological tissue. Adaptations will include simulating other organs such as bowel mesentery. Key statement Early models of omentum for simulation-based training in laparoscopic surgery are extremely promising for cold dissection. The next challenge will be to use only water-based material to allow the use of energy devices (such as diathermy or harmonic scalpel) to increase the fidelity of the simulation.
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Thorne et al. (2025) studied this question.
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