TissueDB/Simulators/Abdominal Wall Defect Simulator (Medeiros)
General Information
The Abdominal Wall Defect Simulator ("WALL-GO") is a low-cost trainer for visually recognising and telling apart two congenital abdominal wall defects: gastroschisis and omphalocele.[1]
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| General Information | WALL-GO is a pair of separate low-fidelity neonatal mannequins built from locally available materials, each permanently modified for one of the two defects and therefore not interchangeable. Full method: Medeiros et al., BMC Medical Education 2023.[1] |
| Features and Basic Operation | The finished models are used by visual inspection: the two are placed side by side and the defects are told apart by location and by the presence or absence of a covering sac. Gastroschisis shows exposed bowel loops to the right of the umbilicus with no covering; omphalocele shows viscera at the umbilicus covered by a translucent membranous sac. A small incision in the sac can simulate membrane rupture.[1] |
| Current Development Status | Built and assessed for face and content validity.[1] |
| Estimated Build Time and Cost | Approximately US$42 |
| Specialized Tools and Equipment | None — only ordinary household items are used.[1] |
| Version | Not stated in source. |
| Development Team Contact Information | Developed by Gabriel Araújo Medeiros and colleagues, with senior author Lourenço Sbragia (pediatric surgeon), at the University of São Paulo (Bauru and Ribeirão Preto Medical Schools), Brazil. Correspondence: sbragia@fmrp.usp.br.[1] |
Tissues
| Tissue | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue | 2 | Vinyl baby doll | US$20 | Neonatal doll providing the torso, skin, and umbilical landmark; its abdominal wall is incised to make the defect.[1] |
| Small Intestine | 1 | Sausage | US$0.50 | Herniated bowel loops; perishable, so the gastroschisis model is effectively single-use. A cellophane-wrapped red cotton ball is a durable substitute.[1] |
| Peritoneum and Serosa | 3 | Female condom | US$3 | Omphalocele model only — layered with the cellophane to form the membranous sac over the viscera.[1] |
| Peritoneum and Serosa | 1 | Yellow cellophane paper | US$0.50 | Omphalocele model only — completes the membranous sac; a small incision in it simulates membrane rupture.[1] |
Structural Parts
| Part Name | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umbilical cord clamp | 1 | Clinical umbilical cord clamp | US$1 | Omphalocele model only — placed at the umbilical cord stump as the defect-location landmark.[1] |
Build Instructions
Phase 1: Prepare the doll bodies
- Obtain two 40 cm vinyl baby dolls, one for each defect model.
- Make a 4 cm circular incision to the right of the umbilicus on the first doll (gastroschisis).
- Make a 4 cm circular incision in the umbilical region of the second doll (omphalocele).
Verification: Each doll has a 4 cm opening — to the right of the umbilicus on the gastroschisis model and central on the omphalocele model.[1]
Phase 2: Build and place the viscera
- Cut a 15 cm length of sausage (about 15 mm diameter) for the herniated intestinal loops.
- Colour the herniated viscera with about 20 ml of fake blood makeup.
- Place the viscera through the gastroschisis opening so they protrude, uncovered.
- Place viscera through the omphalocele opening, then cover them with three female condoms and yellow cellophane paper (0.5 m²) to form the membranous sac.
- Add an umbilical cord clamp at the omphalocele cord site.
Verification: The gastroschisis model shows exposed loops with no covering; the omphalocele model shows viscera under a translucent sac with the cord clamp visible.[1]
Phase 3: Finish
- Apply the finishing cosmetics so the models resemble newborns.
- Place the two finished models side by side for comparative diagnosis training.
Verification: The two models are visually distinct — gastroschisis: paraumbilical defect, exposed viscera, no sac; omphalocele: central defect with a covering sac and a cord clamp.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Medeiros GA, Gualberto IJN, Domingues da Silva CHN, Bicudo Diniz AM, Felinto de Santana JB, Perecin Volpe F, Gadde R, Mazzo A, Cardoso de Oliveira R, Sbragia L. Development of a low-cost congenital abdominal wall defect simulator (wall-go) for undergraduate medical education: a validation study. BMC Medical Education. 2023;23:966. Open access (CC BY 4.0). DOI: 10.1186/s12909-023-04929-3. PMID 38102605.
| Authors | Arturopelayo |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Simulators/Abdominal Wall Defect Simulator (Medeiros)". Appropedia. Retrieved June 4, 2026. |