TissueDB/Simulators/Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Simulator
The Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Simulator is a low-cost training module built from locally available materials for practising laparoscopic cholecystectomy.[1] The developer module supplies the shopping list, cutting templates and expert paradigm video. The completed target module is used inside the Laparoscopic Box Trainer Simulator.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Features and Basic Operation | Learners construct a simulation of gallbladder disease and perform laparoscopic dissection using the ALL-SAFE box-trainer platform. The source directly uses a medium green balloon as the Gallbladder representation. Other listed materials make up the supporting training assembly. |
| Current Development Status | Built from the ALL-SAFE shopping list, templates and expert paradigm video; a proficiency assessment for this module was studied in 2025, and later ALL-SAFE platform studies do not validate this model on its own.[2][3][4] |
| Estimated Build Time and Cost | - |
| Specialized Tools and Equipment | For construction: scissors. For training use: reusable laparoscopic Maryland dissector ×2; grasper ×2 (also called a wavy grasper or Hunter); laparoscopic scissors; laparoscopic needle driver ×1; and suture cut to 15 cm, with silk or Vicryl recommended and white suture avoided. These laparoscopic instruments are shared training equipment and are not part of the gallbladder-module build cost. |
| Version | Version 1 |
| Development Team Contact Information | ALL-SAFE Consortium: Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons, University of Michigan, Southern Illinois University, Soddo Christian Hospital, AIC Kijabe Hospital, Mbingo Baptist Hospital |
Tissues
| Tissue | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallbladder | 1 | Medium-size regular green balloon | - | The green balloon represents the gallbladder. |
Structural Parts
| Part Name | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filling material | As needed | Sand; source-listed alternatives: sawdust or ground coffee | - | Build input listed by ALL-SAFE. No anatomical target is assigned by the source. |
| Modeling balloons | 3 | Modeling balloons — red, green and blue; source-listed alternative: drinking straw | - | Supporting build components. The shopping list assigns them no anatomy. |
| Cotton filling | As needed | Cotton balls; alternative: cotton rolls | - | Ideally white and visibly different in colour from the shoe bag. No source-assigned tissue target. |
| Non-woven shoe bag | 1 | Non-woven shoe bag; alternative: small pillow case | - | Pink or red if available. The shopping list does not say what anatomy the shoe bag represents. |
| Plastic film | As needed | Press'n Seal; alternative: plastic cling wrap | - | Source-listed build material. |
| Yarn | As needed | Yarn | - | Source-listed build component. |
| Tape | As needed | Transparent tape | - | Assembly material. |
| Fastener | As needed | Stapler; source-listed alternative: needle and thread | - | Assembly fastening only. |
| Paper support | 1 | A4 paper; source-listed alternative: paper plate | - | Supporting build component. |
| Surgical glove / specialty bag | 1 | Surgical glove or specialty bag | - | Source-listed build input. |
| Suture tie | 1 | Suture tie | - | Source-listed fastening/procedure component. |
Build Instructions
What the source provides
The ALL-SAFE Gallbladder Disease module provides:
- the material shopping list;
- US Letter cutting templates;
- A4 cutting templates; and
- an expert paradigm video.
The source does not provide a complete enumerated written construction procedure.
Required source resources
Use:
- ALL-SAFE Gallbladder Disease Simulation;
- ALL-SAFE Gallbladder Disease Shopping List;
- US Letter cutting template;
- A4 cutting template; and
- the expert paradigm video provided on the developer module page.
Construction
Construct the gallbladder-disease target module using the developer shopping list, the appropriate cutting template and the expert paradigm video.
The source materials include:
- one medium green regular balloon;
- sand, with sawdust or ground coffee as alternatives;
- three modeling balloons — red, green and blue — with a drinking straw as an alternative;
- cotton balls or cotton rolls;
- one non-woven shoe bag or small pillow case;
- Press'n Seal or plastic cling wrap;
- yarn;
- transparent tape;
- stapler or needle and thread;
- A4 paper or a paper plate;
- one surgical glove or specialty bag;
- one suture tie; and
- scissors.
Follow the source templates and video for the exact assembly sequence.
Use
Place the completed gallbladder target module inside the Laparoscopic Box Trainer Simulator.
Use the source-listed reusable laparoscopic instrument set for the training exercise.
What the parts represent
- The medium green balloon directly represents the Gallbladder.
- The shopping list does not say what anatomy the non-woven shoe bag represents.
- Scissors are a construction tool, not a structural simulator component.
- The shopping list assigns no anatomy to the sand, cotton, plastic film, yarn, tape, paper, glove, suture or fasteners.
- The box trainer is a separate reusable host platform and not part of this target module's anatomy.
Cost
The ALL-SAFE developer shopping list contains no prices.
Kim et al. (2025) separately describes the evaluated cholecystectomy simulation setup as low-cost and reports a materials-cost scope below US$10.
Evidence
Kim et al. (2025) provides module-specific psychomotor/proficiency evidence through CHOLE-VOP.
The later 2026 ALL-SAFE studies provide broader curriculum/platform outcome evidence.
None of these studies tests the physical tissue fidelity of each component, or shows that this simulator alone caused any change in operating-room activity.
| Alternative names | Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Trainer |
|---|
| Authors | Arturopelayo |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Simulators/Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Simulator". Appropedia. Retrieved October 3, 2026. |
- ↑ ALL-SAFE Consortium. "Shopping List: List of all materials you will need to complete the ALL-SAFE Box Build" — sections "Materials Required for Gallbladder Disease Simulation Build" and "Laparoscopic Tools". Gallbladder Disease module, Global Surgical Training Challenge. Undated; the document carries no author line or publication date. PDF on Appropedia, linked from ALL-SAFE/Gallbladder Disease/Simulation.
- ↑ Kim E, Tchinde MJ, Rooney DM, et al. 2025. "A novel tool for assessing psychomotor proficiency in laparoscopic cholecystectomy using simulation-based training." Surgical Endoscopy. DOI: 10.1007/s00464-025-11708-2. The study evaluated the CHOLE-VOP proficiency assessment in 52 participants; checklist and global-rating scores differed significantly between experience groups.
- ↑ Ngam et al. 2026. ALL-SAFE curriculum outcome study. DOI: 10.1002/wjs.70219.
- ↑ ALL-SAFE Cameroon operating-room utilization study, 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpsurg.2026.102065. Neither 2026 study validates the physical materials or tissue fidelity of this gallbladder model, or shows that this simulator alone changed operating-room activity.