Advanced surgical trauma care training with a live porcine model.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefit of a compulsory operative trauma care course for general surgeons in Norway utilising a live porcine model.

METHODS: The participants rated their expertise in 23 situations pre- and post-session on a scale 1-5, where 1 meant "not competent" and 5 meant "fully competent".

RESULTS: Mean total score increased 43% from pre- to post-session. The increase reached significance with all levels of experience. Procedures rarely performed, like suturing on a beating heart, showed a greater educational benefit than more frequently performed procedures, like inserting a chest tube.

CONCLUSION: The operative trauma care animal session increased the participants' perceived competence significantly. Its use seems justified for education in trauma related lifesaving surgical procedures.