ABSTRACT
The best method for a physician to acquire technical skills and experience with products
for performance of percutaneous, image-guided, minimally invasive procedures is hands-on
training on laboratory animals with simulated clinical problems. This article describes
methods and materials that can be used to create models of reversible biliary and
ureteral obstruction, biliary stones, vascular stenosis, and arterial thrombosis in
pigs. Gross and radiographic appearances of model creation are included. Once created,
these models can be used for training of selective vascular and nonvasculoar catheterization
techniques, cholecystostomy, transhepatic cholangiography, gallstone retrieval, nephrostomy,
angioplasy, stenting, and thrombolysis/thromboembolectomy.
KEYWORDS
Animal models - hands-on training - interventional radiology
