“Using the simulator allowed me to try out a wide range of different guide catheters for a particular artery. I was able to see why different shapes worked better, helping me to choose the best guide for the job, first time. This just wouldn’t have been possible or fair on a real patient”

Dr. Alan Bagnall, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Freeman Hospital.

The target organ may be different, but the skills needed for vascular interventions are the same whether you’re a cardiologist, radiologist or vascular surgeon

– Dr. Alan Bagnall, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Freeman Hospital

Endovascular techniques have revolutionised our practice in surgery, cardiology and radiology. Technology continues to progress at an alarming rate. Patients with previously untreatable disease are increasingly finding their way to the endovascular practitioners procedure suite. Trainees must arm themselves with the necessary skill set to provide a safe and comprehensive service to their patients. Simulators are the perfect adjunct to hone these skills, correct mistakes and achieve competency before practicing on real patients.

High fidelity simulators are equipped with individual trainee log ins. Through this function, endovascular trainers can customise training programmes that are tailored to their trainees needs. This individualised approach is perfect for endovascular skills training, and comes at a distinct advantage to patients, who no longer act as our guinea pigs!

We have already seen the introduction of simulators into higher specialty recruitment assessments. A synthetic endovascular simulator is already being used in the European Board Of Surgery Qualification In Vascular Surgery (EBSQ-VASC) exam.

Simulation will take an increasing role in skills assessment, re-validation and competency assessment across all specialties including surgery, interventional radiology and cardiology. Simulator proficiency therefore has important influence on your training, progression and every day practice.

There is strong evidence that training on an endovascular simulator can improve a trainees endovascular skills and this will transfer into safer practice on real patients. Trust the experts!!

• Chaer AR, DeRubertis BG, Lin SC, Bush HL, Karowski JK, Birk D, Morrisey NJ, Faries PL, McKinsey JF, Kent KC. Simulation Improves Resident Performance in Catheter-Based Intervention.Results of a Randomised, Controlled Trial. Annals of Surgery. 2006; 244: 343-352.
• Coates PJB, Zealley IA, Chakraverty S. Endovascular Simulator Is of Benefit in the Acquisition of Basic Skills by Novice Operators. Journal of Vascular Interventional Radiology. 2010; 21: 130-134.
• Dawson DL, Meyer J, Eugene SL, Pevec WC. Training with simulation improves resident’ endovascular procedure skills. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 2007; 45: 149-154.

• Aggarwal R, Black SA, Hance JR, Darzi A, Cheshire NJW. Virtual Reality Simulation can Improve Inexperienced Surgeons’ Endovascular Skills. Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery 2006; 31: 588-593.