Impresión de modelos anatómicos didácticos en 3D para la intubación endotraqueal de felinos y caninos mestizos

Abstract

Endotracheal intubation is a medical procedure that requires great expertise to be performed successfully. Performing this maneuver without proper training can have consequences. For many years endotracheal intubation has been taught to veterinary students with dead animals; nowadays, there are simulation-based teaching methods. Many veterinary schools have implemented the teaching of this technique with 3D printed anatomical models. This research aimed to design, print, and test 3D didactic models for endotracheal intubation of canines and felines. This study was carried out at the facilities of the Veterinary Medicine Department of the Catholic University of Cuenca. Computed tomography scans were performed on three dogs and one cat to serve as an anatomical template for the digital design of the 3D models. 3D animal’s models were printed with two materials. The outer part was constructed with polylactic acid, while the inner parts of the model were printed in thermoplastic polyurethane. The models were tested by 121 undergraduate (n = 80) and graduate (n = 41) students of Veterinary Medicine. The pupils were subjected to a 5-question survey to determine their opinion about the 3D didactic models. About 95% of the respondents stated that the 3D models were anatomically similar to real canines and felines and that they were helpful, didactic and easy to use. Keywords: endotracheal intubation, dogs, cats, veterinary medicine