General Posters II
AB227. SOH26AB_0379. High-fidelity synthetic model for safer internal mammary vessel isolation: development and validation in autologous breast reconstruction training
Iulia Marinescu1, Adam Roche2, Caoimhin O’Conghaile2, Stephanie Bollard1, Anton Fries3, Adrian McArdle4, Roisin Dolan1,5
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland;
2RCSI SIM Centre for Simulation Education and Research, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland;
3Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada;
4Division of Plastic Surgery, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA;
5School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Background: The precise and safe preparation of internal mammary recipient vessels is a critical component of microvascular autologous breast reconstruction. These vessels lie within a confined, dynamic space, requiring refined dexterity and careful tissue handling. Existing training adjuncts are limited. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel synthetic simulation model to support early surgical training and establish baseline proficiency before operating.
Methods: A synthetic post-mastectomy chest model was designed in collaboration with technicians at the RCSI SIM Centre, with iterative refinement informed by consultant microsurgeon feedback. Five novice trainees completed pre- and post-training questionnaires assessing confidence. Face and content validity were evaluated by five expert microsurgeons. Performances were video-recorded and independently scored by two blinded external expert assessors using a task-specific checklist and the six-domain Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) global rating scale to test construct validity.
Results: Novices demonstrated a statistically significant mean increase in confidence of 2.75 points (standard deviation, 0.96 points; P<0.05) on a 1–10 scale. Experts rated model fidelity highly: skin 4.25, soft tissue 4.25, 3rd rib 4.75, perichondrium 4.75, vessel dissection 3.25, overall realism 4.5, teaching suitability 4.25, and utility for higher surgical training 4.25 (all on 1–5 scales). OSATS scoring successfully distinguished experts from novices for both assessors (assessor 1: 21.2±4.0 vs. 17.4±4.2; assessor 2: 25.8±4.0 vs. 20.4±2.6), yielding 80% sensitivity and 60% specificity.
Conclusions: This synthetic model demonstrates high fidelity and robust construct validity, providing a practical, objective platform for teaching and assessing the technical skills needed for safe internal mammary vessel preparation.
Keywords: Synthetic model; microsurgery; training; surgical education; simulation
Acknowledgments
None.
Funding: None.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the non-commercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
doi: 10.21037/map-26-ab227
Cite this abstract as: Marinescu I, Roche A, O’Conghaile C, Bollard S, Fries A, McArdle A, Dolan R. AB227. SOH26AB_0379. High-fidelity synthetic model for safer internal mammary vessel isolation: development and validation in autologous breast reconstruction training. Mesentery Peritoneum 2026;10:AB227.
