New porcine model of perineal tear and its utility in physicians’ training on the reconstruction of 3rd and 4th degree perineal tear during vaginal delivery

Objectives: One of the most serious complications of vaginal delivery is 3rd and 4th degree perineal tear and its incorrect management results in anal incontinence. Animal-based anatomical models of childbirth-induced perineal tear are an important element of the physicians’ practical training [1]. The proposed new model, prepared using porcine tongue and intestine, closely mimics all the tissues and organs subjected to injury during complicated deliveries and constitutes an educational opportunity for the reconstruction of the injuries.The objective of this paper was to present a new porcine model of the perineum and to evaluate the utility of this model in the training of physicians on the reconstruction of the 3rd and 4th degree perineal tear during childbirth.Material and methods: We presented a preparation method of the proposed model and a calculation of the amount of time and costs required for its preparation. The utility of the model was assessed using a questionnaire completed by the participants of a workshop conducted with the model.Results: We found that 95% of the respondents had never practiced perineal reconstruction on any model. According to 85% of the respondents, our model was very similar to natural tissues. According to 95% of the respondents, the simulated model of the perineal tear satisfactorily mimicked the real-life situation.Conclusions: The presented model is cheap and easy to prepare. It satisfactorily mimics the tissues and tissue injuries caused by the tear, making it helpful in training physicians on the reconstruction of 3rd and 4th degree perineal tear