Laparoscopy allows surgeons to operate through a tiny hole in the abdomen. Everything from gallbladder surgery to sterilizations is now done in this way. Some equipment manufacturers have promoted the use of live animal laboratories to teach surgical techniques, in spite of recent findings by Stephen M. Tsang, M.D., and colleagues Tulane University that the animal labs have no demonstrable benefit (see Good Medicine, Summer, 1995).

Seattle's Simulab Corporation, along with the University of Washington Center for Videoendoscopic Surgery, has devised a simulator that replaces live animals for a fraction of their cost, according to Carlos Pellegrini, M.D., Chairman of Surgery at the University of Washington And co director of the Center. Simulab has a synthetic human torso into which can be placed "procedure packs" to allow trainees to introduce surgical instruments and practice suture skills, gallbladder removal, and other procedures on latex simulated organs, while watching their work on a typical videoendoscopic screen. The company also offers a prostrate surgery simulator. For more information, email: info@simulab.com.

Reprinted from GOOD MEDICINE, Autumn 1995 Issue, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.