Training in Vascular Microsurgery: The Ex Vivo Biological Model on Domestic Turkey Leg ( Meleagris gallopavo ).

There are various models for practicing microsurgical anastomoses, from synthetic to ex vivo and in vivo biological ones. In this study, we present the domestic turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo ) as an ex vivo biological model in the practice of surgical anastomoses. In our opinion, it represents a model that is very similar to a human one, low cost, and easy to find. In fact, our study shows that the diameters of the arteries and veins used for anastomoses (tibial artery diameter: 2.5 ± 0.6 mm; tibial vein diameter: 3.5 ± 1.2 mm) are similar to those of human arteries and veins most frequently used in microsurgical free flaps. So, we believe that this animal model is a great model for microsurgical training for doctors who approach this difficult and long to learn discipline.