The Complementary Roles of Live Porcine and Soft-Preserved Human Body Donors in Laparoscopic Colon Resection Training for General Surgery Residents

Abstract Purpose : To compare the educational utility of live porcine and Imperial College of London Soft-Preserved (ICL-SP) human body donor models for laparoscopic colon resection training in general surgery residents. Methods : A single-institution, mixed-methods educational study was conducted within the general surgery procedural skills curriculum at a tertiary academic medical center. Resident experiences with the models were assessed via anonymous Likert-based questionnaires, and faculty perspectives were captured through semi-structured interviews following completion of both simulation sessions. Results : Residents more frequently reported improved anatomical knowledge after ICL-SP exposure than after porcine exposure (82.4% vs 35.3%, p<0.001; Cohen’s d=1.14). Confidence identifying key operative structures, including the retroperitoneum (82.4% vs 35.3%), ureters (82.4% vs 23.5%), and mesentery (76.5% vs 41.2%), was more consistently improved after ICL-SP exposure. In contrast, the porcine model was rated superior for tissue elasticity (58.8%) and arterial/venous structural integrity (52.9%). Senior residents favored ICL-SP over porcine models (mean benefit 4.05 vs 2.83), whereas junior residents rated both models similarly. Faculty unanimously described the ICL-SP donor as more anatomically representative of live human operative conditions, while recognizing the porcine model’s advantages for active tissue physiology. Conclusions : Live porcine and ICL-SP human body donor models appear to serve complementary rather than interchangeable roles in laparoscopic colon resection training. Integration of both models within surgical residency curricula, aligned with trainee experience level, may optimize procedural education across stages of training.