Development and Implementation of an Inexpensive, Easily Producible, Time Efficient External Ventricular Drain Simulator Using 3-Dimensional Printing and Image Registration.

BACKGROUND

External ventricular drain (EVD) placement is one of the most commonly performed procedures in neurosurgery, frequently by the junior neurosurgery resident. Simulators for EVD placement are often costly, time-intensive to create, and complicated to set up.

OBJECTIVE

To describe creation of a simulator that is inexpensive, time-efficient, and simple to set up.

METHODS

This simulator involves printing a hollow head using a desktop 3-dimensional (3D) printer. This head is registered to a commercially available image-guidance system. A total of 11 participants volunteered for this simulation module. EVD placement was assessed at baseline, after verbal teaching, and after live 3D view instruction.

RESULTS

Accurate placement of an EVD on the right side at the foramen of Monro or the frontal horn of the lateral ventricle increased from 44% to 98% with training. Similarly, accurate placement on the left increased from 42% to 85% with training.

CONCLUSION

During participation in the simulation, accurate placement of EVDs increased significantly. All participants believed that they had a better understanding of ventricular anatomy and that this module would be useful as a teaching tool for neurosurgery interns.