Teaching techniques in cardiovascular surgery for undergraduate students with swine thoracic viscera

OBJECTIVE: To present this practical teaching method, and assess the degree of learning effectiveness, comparing students who attended the course during basic undergraduation (seventh semester), and after eighteen months (tenth semester), when already in the Hospital internship. METHODS: Thoracic viscera, with heart, vascular structures of the mediastinum, trachea and lungs, preserved by refrigeration, were fixed in a metallic device. The supra-aortic branches were connected, and a Foley catheter was introduced backwards for water infusion, allowing the presentation of surgical procedures. Questionnaires were applied to 40 students of the seventh and tenth semesters; the answers underwent statistical analysis. RESULTS: The following techniques were demonstrated: establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass; coronary artery bypass grafting with carotid artery segment obtained in the same block of viscera; aortic valve replacement with synthetic valve; patch made with biological material in order to correct a defect previously held in the atrial septum; positioning of the various types of electrodes used for electrical stimulation of the heart; demonstration of techniques performed in cardiac transplantation and simulation and correction of both heart and aorta injuries. The degree of adequacy of such tool was positive, with values between 55 and 95%, and retention of what was taught after 18 months. CONCLUSION: This teaching method requires easy preparation and low cost, allowing the performance of complex operations, attracting medical students' interest.(AU)