Surgical suturing: how students are innovating medical education

The Surgical Suturing Project was created as a student initiative to teach future doctors basic surgical techniques. After its demise during the pandemic, a group of students decided to passionately revive and expand the project. Today, they form a series of several workshops and the courses are accredited as an elective course for general medicine students at the MU Faculty of Medicine. The courses combine practical skills with innovative learning methods. The teaching takes place in the Simulation Centre of the Faculty of Medicine.

20 Dec 2024 Jana Majerová

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The Surgical Suturing Project originally started as a student-organized activity within the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA). The original courses focused on practicing basic surgical sutures on wetsuits and pig knives. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the project was discontinued, but in the autumn of 2022, students Radka Syrová and Karolína Brňáková decided to revive the idea. They not only revived the semi-aquatic concept, but added a number of innovations and extended its reach. It brings an innovative way of teaching through simulated operative. It is a place where students can capitalise on a wealth of theoretical knowledge and at the same time the lecturers - undergraduate students - are supported in their teaching activities. Thanks to these activities, local and international collaborations are developed and surgical disciplines are made more attractive. At the same time, it supports those interested in studying general and dental medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, as it also organises beginner courses within the framework of the CzecHopes high school conference.

From basics to microsurgery

Thanks to their successful return, the project has gained a solid structure and has become a coherent educational programme. An example is the workshop series, which includes courses for beginners and advanced students, including specialties such as vascular and plastic surgery, laparoscopy and now microsurgery.

The students have put together a team of lecturers, approached clinical departments to provide expert sponsorship and launched a collaboration with SIMU where practical teaching takes place. They provided simulators, suture materials and developed theoretical and practical lessons. In the spring of 2024, Radka Syrová took over the coordination of the project and expanded the programme to include courses in microsurgery, loaned binocular magnifiers, arranged for the purchase of new microsurgical instruments and training of the lecturing team.

"Surgical suturing is a skill that needs to be practiced and the Surgical Suturing project is an opportunity to be in regular contact with this skill and to improve it. The project also offers the opportunity to attend extra training sessions with doctors from different surgical specialties and therefore possible contacts for those interested in the field. Last but not least, it is very cool to meet new friends among the lecturers and students," says one of the lecturers, Matěj Wimmer.

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Courses that inspire

The course is now accredited as an elective course (VLCH071x) under the auspices of the Vice-Dean Prof. Petr Štourač. The courses are open not only to Czech students, but also to foreign students who can take the lessons in English.

In February 2024, the team participated in the largest high school conference CzecHopes, where students presented a course on surgical suturing for beginners. In the fall of 2024, 3D printed blood vessel and tendon simulators were created in collaboration with SIMU, further expanding hands-on learning opportunities.

The future of the project

"We are trying to create a learning experience that will first and foremost entertain and motivate. The aim is to put the student in the role of an operator under conditions where there is room for error. It's working, even after two years our courses are filling up in 10 seconds. And this is what drives us forward," said Radka Syrová, the founder and coordinator of the project. She is now training new coordinators Adéla Klimešová and Kateřina Bartlova, who previously worked as lecturers. The lecturing team has been expanded by 10 more members, who help to maintain the high quality of the courses and their attractiveness.

Current data (as of December 2024)

Content of each lesson

Evaluation of course participants

"The SIMU surgical suturing courses have been a great opportunity for me to gain practical skills that are invaluable in clinical practice. The opportunity to practice specific suturing techniques under the guidance of experienced colleagues from the Faculty of Surgery has further deepened my interest in surgical fields in the future. And I also feel that it has given me a solid foundation for working in the operating room," says participant Samuel.

"I would like to pursue a career in surgery, so I really appreciated this course. It has given me confidence and reassurance that I enjoy it. The lecturers were very good at giving us advice and good tips. Most of all, it's a great extension of skills beyond just sewing. I really appreciated the opportunity to experience the principles of laparoscopy," said Moni.

"Amazing, it has definitely made me think that studying medicine is what I want to do. Thank you for your approach, I would definitely like to take part in something like this again," the high school student perceived the benefit to her decision to study at university to the beginners workshop at the CzecHopes conference.

And to round out the quartet, one brief but succinct assessment from another participant: "Thank you for making complicated things simple."

The partners of the project are IFMSA and the Simulation Centre of LF MU. The professional guarantee is provided by the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery of the Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Brno, I. and II. Surgical Clinic of FNUSA and LF MU and AGEL Přerov Hospital.


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