TissueDB/Simulators/Chest Tube Simulator (Man-O-War)
(Redirected from TissueDB/Simulators/Man-O-War Chest Tube Simulator)
The Man-O-War Chest Tube Simulator is a low-cost manikin for training chest tube insertion (tube thoracostomy) and management, built from inexpensive materials that an educator can self-produce.[1] It supports the complete chest tube insertion procedure: rib palpation, syringe puncture and local anaesthesia, skin incision, blunt dissection, pleural puncture, tube placement, and suturing.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Features and Basic Operation | The chest wall presents a palpable rib cage with individualised intercostal spaces and gives a flesh-like feel when palpating and inserting a drain. Each intercostal space tolerates up to 3 punctures — at least 30 insertion attempts per chest wall — and the chest-wall and pleura layers can be replaced in about 15 minutes. After insertion the model can be opened to confirm exact tube placement. |
| Current Development Status | Pilot-tested with emergency physicians at Tunisian congresses in 2022; the source paper reports no validation, and a satisfaction survey is forthcoming. |
| Estimated Build Time and Cost | US$15 |
| Specialized Tools and Equipment | Straight grinder — used to cut the plastic bucket between the ribs to individualise the intercostal spaces. |
| Version | Version 1 |
| Development Team Contact Information | Olfa Chakroun-Walha, Emergency Department, Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax University, Tunisia. ⚑ Open for review: the contact email (chakroun_olfa@medecinesfax.org) and the corresponding-author designation are not stated in the open-access text and need verification against the publisher version. |
Tissues
| Tissue | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone (ribs) | 10 (5 pairs) | Plaster Bandage | $2.50 | Stiffened plaster over the bucket "ribs"; the source states they "offer a real sensation of bones on palpation". |
| Chest-wall soft tissue (parietal wall) | 1 | Foam mattress ("extra dur", extra-firm) | $2.50 | Represents the authors' "parietal wall"; the source reports a "similar density to flesh" and "a real feeling when palpating and introducing a drain". ⚑ Open for review: the source names only a "foam mattress ('extra dur', extra-firm)", not the polymer — the "Polyurethane Foam" class link is provisional pending Felipe's canonical foam class. |
| Pleura (parietal) | 1 | Gaffer Tape | — | Gaffer tape molded over the intercostal spaces (atop the cellophane wrap); the source states this assembly "mimics the parietal pleura". Not separately itemised in the source's Table 1; the stated total includes it. |
Structural Parts
| Part Name | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thorax frame | 1 | Funnel-shaped plastic bucket | $3.00 | The "ribs" are drawn on and cut from the bucket walls; the bucket provides the thoracic form and rib-cage skeleton. |
| Cellophane wrap | 1 | Cellophane paper (Plastic Film) | $1.50 | Rolled around the bucket before the gaffer-tape layer; the base on which the pleura assembly is built. |
| Support base | 1 | Basin with 5 kg white cement | $3.50 | The bucket is fixed into the cement-filled basin for stability during procedures. The source's Table 1 prices the basin, cement and screws together. |
| Fasteners | Not specified in source | Screws and nuts | (incl.) | Secure the foam mattress to the bucket frame; priced with the basin line in the source's Table 1. |
Build Instructions
Phase 1: Frame Construction
- Acquire frame. Buy a funnel-shaped plastic bucket with upper diameter 20 cm, lower diameter 35 cm, and length 30 cm.
- Mark rib layout. Draw a rib cage on the bucket with a permanent marker. Place the sternum line in the middle and mark 5 pairs of ribs laterally on both sides. Make the ribs 2 cm wide and 10–15 cm long, leaving the intercostal spaces 2 cm wide.
- Cut intercostal spaces. Cut the plastic between the ribs with a straight grinder to individualise each intercostal space.
✓ Verify: Each rib is individually defined with open, accessible intercostal spaces between them.
Phase 2: Tissue Layers
- Apply bone simulation. Cut a plaster casting roll into 4 cm strips lengthwise. Wrap the strips around each rib, flatten with the fingers, and overlap each pass. Allow the plaster to dry. The ribs become stiff at approximately 1 cm width.
✓ Verify: Dried ribs are rigid and palpation produces a firm, bone-like sensation.
- Apply pleura substrate. Roll cellophane paper around the bucket.
- Apply pleura simulation. Place gaffer tape along the intercostal spaces and mold it firmly over the spaces.
✓ Verify: Gaffer tape covers all intercostal spaces; the cellophane-tape assembly gives consistent puncture resistance across all spaces.
- Attach chest wall. Anchor a 60 × 30 × 5 cm "extra dur" (extra-firm) foam mattress to the bucket with screws and nuts, so the chest wall can be unscrewed and replaced once its intercostal spaces have too many cuts to reuse.
✓ Verify: The foam is secure, and the rib positions and intercostal spaces are palpable through it.
Phase 3: Base Assembly
- Create support base. Fill a basin with 5 kg of melted white cement, fix the bucket into the cement, and allow it to set completely before use.
✓ Verify: The simulator stands upright without external support and the base stays stable during chest-tube insertion force.
References
- ↑ Nasri A, Jerbi M, Karray R, Snoussi H, Samet A, Talbi A, Ksentini H, Rejeb I, Chakroun-Walha O, Rekik N (2023). "Man-O-War simulator: a Low-cost manikin for training on chest tube management." African Journal of Emergency Medicine 13(2):39–41. DOI: 10.1016/j.afjem.2023.01.004. PMID: 36864887.
| Alternative names | Man-O-War simulator Man-O-War manikin |
|---|
| Authors | Arturopelayo |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Simulators/Chest Tube Simulator (Man-O-War)". Appropedia. Retrieved June 24, 2026. |