Large Animal Venipuncture Training Models

Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA, USA

ID: MDL9

Relevant Skills: materials, fluids, anatomy

Veterinary students need to practice skills to achieve clinical competency. One key skill is the ability to accurately place an intravenous catheter into the jugular veins of large animals and administer intravenous fluids. In this era of humane science education and heightened awareness of animal welfare, veterinary education is moving towards the use of models rather than live animals.

Models provide practical experience without causing ethical concerns or patient risk and range in sophistication from simple task completion to high-tech computer components, which would record pressures of liquid flow. The challenge is to have lifelike models for the students.

Large animal simulation products are in the market and can be found at http://vetsimulators.net/, but these models focus on suture practice and organ palpation. Intravenous simulation products are available, but focus on small animals http://veteffects.com/products.htm and humans https://www.anatomywarehouse.com/manikins-and-simulators/patient-care-trainers/injection-venipuncture-trainers. High tech human models are used at a human healthcare training center in England http://www.bmsc.co.uk/.

We are seeking head/neck equine and bovine models with a recessed jugular furrow containing a simulated jugular vein on both sides of the neck. The material covering the simulated vein should approximate the thickness and resistance of normal hide. The simulated vein would be distended with a red liquid, which would empty into a receptacle or be recycled to maintain pressure.

Ideally, the student designed durable models will:

• appear realistic and be anatomically correct
• contain a tubular structure that will distend and collapse like a vein
• have a replaceable tubular structure and simulated hide
• contain some element of computer component technology

We have access to a company in California with system of hot wire tools that are used to cut rigid styrofoam, https://hotwirefoamfactory.com/. The resulting creations are coated with a stabilizing material. We could request animal models be cut by the company and the students would modify them to insert the simulated jugular vein. If desired, the cutting tools can be made available and the students could design and cut the animal models themselves.

Mentoring is available for anatomical correctness and understanding of venipuncture considerations. The design team will be encouraged to evaluate their fabrications by organizing trainings for veterinary students. Supplemental funding is available for additional materials needed for project. If successful, these models could become vital pieces of training equipment for veterinary students here at UC Davis and perhaps marketed to other veterinary and veterinary technician schools.