gms | German Medical Science

Abdominal sonography is one of the most important diagnostic imaging methods in the field of veterinary medicine. However, a high level of theoretical knowledge as well as numerous hours of practical training are necessary to produce valuable images and to correctly interpret them. Until now the practical education of sonography occurs entirely with living and mostly healthy animals. In contrast to veterinary medicine, human medical education has successfully used simulators for ultrasound training for more than 20 years.

Objective of this work was the development of a simulator for the abdominal sonography of the cat. Another important aspect in developing this simulator was to create the possibility of examining “sick animals” with simulation as well as making sufficient practical training available for all students and veterinarians without affecting animal welfare acts or laws.

Three-dimensional ultrasound datasets of abdominal organs of 43 death cats were created with the ultrasound system „MyLab Twice“ (Esaote, Cologne, Germany). These datasets included physiologic and pathologic kidneys. Furthermore, abdominal anatomic serial sections, three-dimensional computer tomographies (CTs) and magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of the abdomen of adult cats were created. The feline abdominal sonography simulator works on the basis of the SonoSimIII by Sonofit GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany.

Ultrasound examinations can be carried out on cat models in dorsal or lateral recumbency as well as on standing “cats”. The kidneys are explored with a linear transducer and are then screened in transversal, sagittal and horizontal views. This corresponds to real sonographic examinations of kidneys. Size is determined with help of range and area measurements. The special feature directly compares the ultrasound images with corresponding anatomical sections, as CTs and MRIs improve the anatomical and topographical imagination of the examiner. A further advantage of the simulator is the integration of diseases. By solving exercises (with solutions), the user can also check his newly developed skills.

Using the new simulator, feline abdominal sonography can be practiced under guidance or independently and the acquired skills can be subsequently checked.

The educational value of this first veterinary simulator for abdominal sonography as part of the students’ clinical education and training for veterinarians will be evaluated objectively in the winter semester 2015/16. In addition, future attempts to create suitable three-dimensional ultrasound datasets of living cats will be carried out soon.