Anatomical workshops using cadaveric models significantly improve procedural safety and self-assessment when accessing subclavian vessels during emergencies, with no correlation found between surgical experience and successful emergency access.
Participant confidence in performing infraclavicular subclavian vessel access increased substantially from day one to day two of the cadaveric workshop.
Correct identification of subclavian vessels improved substantially between day one and day two of the cadaveric training course.
Surgical experience level did not correlate with successful emergency infraclavicular access to the subclavian vessels.
A cadaveric dissection course model was used to evaluate procedural time and safety of the infraclavicular approach to subclavian vessels performed by non-thoracic surgeons.
Anatomic dissection was identified as being of paramount importance for teaching rare and demanding surgical techniques such as emergency subclavian vessel access.
This research suggests that orthopedic trauma surgeons can meaningfully improve their ability to access the large blood vessels beneath the collarbone (subclavian vessels) through structured cadaver-based training, even without prior specialized vascular or thoracic surgery experience. The study tracked 100 orthopedic surgeons of varying experience levels as they practiced an emergency technique — called the infraclavicular approach — on cadavers over two days. Confidence and accuracy in correctly identifying and clamping these vessels improved dramatically, with correct vessel identification rising by roughly 35-37% and confident performance jumping from 27% to 71% between day one and day two. A particularly notable finding was that a surgeon's overall level of experience did not predict how well they performed the procedure. This means that even senior surgeons were not inherently better at this specific task, underscoring that the technique requires dedicated, targeted training rather than relying on general surgical skill. This has practical implications for surgical education programs and emergency preparedness, suggesting that structured anatomical workshops could be a valuable addition to trauma surgery training curricula. The broader context is that injuries to the subclavian vessels — which supply blood to the arms and shoulder region — can be life-threatening and require rapid surgical control. This research suggests that non-specialist surgeons can be trained to safely perform emergency access to these vessels, potentially expanding the pool of providers capable of managing such injuries in trauma settings where thoracic or vascular surgeons may not be immediately available.
Grechenig P, Gänsslen A, Dauwe J, Wittig U, Sagmeister M, Koutp A, et al.. (2026). Emergency access to the subclavian vessels by non-thoracic surgeons: a cadaver-based learning model for orthopedic trauma surgery.. Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-026-06367-4