23rd May 2025 update…..We trialled our GI Surgery Lite boards yesterday on a course at University Hospital of North Midlands and they proved their usefulness. We actually used them for laparoscopic skills training and delegates were able to do patch repair of DU along with stapled and hand sewn anastomoses, all laparoscopically. I’ve now added a page link in the menu bar for the GI Surgery Lite trainer which links to a page with some more information about the trainers. I’m manufacturing at present and once I have a supply ready I’ll send details out in newsletter on how to order. I’m afraid they’ll only be available in the UK for the time being but hopefully this will change soon. Subscribe to newsletter and you’ll then know when they are available and also I’ll give you updates on other models/courses in the pipeline, including the stoma course and inguinal hernia course, so you’ll be first to know. I won’t fill your inbox with newsletters every other day, only when there is something to say, probably once a month or so. Don’t forget to subscribe to YouTube channel as well. That’s a free resource, (and always will be), and I’ll put all of my training videos on there for anyone interested to see.
GI Surgery Lite
The GI Surgery Lite simulator is designed to allow training in some common GI Surgery procedures. It is relatively small and can be sent to you at home if you are training using videos or enrolled in a virtual course, or you are given one when you attend the face to face course. The model consists of two loops of small bowel, one of which contains a stricture along with a simulated gallstone. The bowel model is made of a type of thin neoprene with a rubber middle layer which can be worked on dry however can be given a more realistic feel by wetting the material.
We advise to start by identifying the stricture using the gallstone. A strictureplasty can then be performed, the success of which is tested by seeing if you can pass the gallstone through it after completion. Following this a transverse enterotomy can be made over the gallstone allowing it’s removal, followed by closure of the enterotomy.
The stapled end of the upper loop can be buried using a continuous suture, or interrupted if preferred, and then you can move on to anastomotic training. A side to side, hand sewn anastomosis can be constructed first thus joining the two loops together. Finally, the second loop can be divided to allow practice of an end to end anastomosis. When the bowel is divided to do this, we suggest reinserting the gallstone and milking it to the end of the bowel loop. This can then be used to run the bowel, success demonstrated by being able to milk the gallstone from one blind end to the other, traversing all of your handiwork…. 🙂
Below is a video which shows us one of the techniques. See our YouTube channel for other videos.