[Models of the epigastric cavity, the liver vessels and bile ducts as an anatomic and surgical teaching tool].

During the "Alps-Adria Hepatobiliary School" in Ljubljana a workshop was held at which various liver surgery techniques were performed in practice. These techniques required the introduction of original methods which enabled practical exercise on isolated liver. Plastic casts of the upper part of the abdominal cavity were made, as well as the corrosion models of the hepatic vessels and bile ducts. Isolated livers were conserved by means of freezing. The results showed that the freezing and thawing did not alter the consistency of livers, which made them useful material for surgical practice. Corrosion casts were used for studying three-dimensional structure of the vessels and bile ducts before the surgical techniques were applied. Various possibilities of further use and application of models and corrosion casts are discussed. The role of working on the models and casts for a better performance of a surgery workshop is emphasized.