Microsurgical Training Curriculum for Neurosurgery Residents in Southern Iran

Training of microvascular anastomosis techniques comprise the major part of surgical skills, necessary for revascularization surgeries. Training can be performed in several stages based on the experience of trainees. This should mainly start with various models of artificial materials that simulate tissues. In the next stage, trainee should practice microsurgical skill on a non-living tissue model. Further experienced trainees would work with live animal models, which provide the most relevant simulation due to presence of blood flow. According to the similar educational curriculums, such a training program has the merits of high face and construct validityMastering the microsurgical anastomosis techniques along its steep learning curve requires rehearsal and practice to refine necessary skills especially for bypass grafts when time is of the essence and brain tissue is endangered with reduced perfusion. With increased number of neurological surgery residents and wide-spread use of endovascular techniques, many trainees do not gain sufficient exposure to learn the vascular anastomosis techniques in operating rooms. Interdisciplinary micro-lab, such as the one designed at our department, makes it possible for neurosurgical trainees to learn the microsurgical skills for vascular anastomosis on simulated animal models, along its steep learning curve.