Resident Training in General Surgery Using a Pig Model (Sus scrofa domestica)

This protocol is designed to be part of the surgical training of Air Force physicians during their General Surgery residency at Keesler Medical Center. It augments the clinical and didactic training provided to them within the residency program while providing valuable, hands-on experience in surgical techniques pertaining to the abdomen e.g. liver, intestine, colon, kidneys, bladder, and spleen and thorax e.g. esophagus, and augments their military medical readiness skills. A total for five training labs were conducted during this three year approval period, 52 students were trained and 10 animals were used.