Teaching Ultrasonographic Basic Examination Skills (TUBES): Assessment of an Ultrasound Skill Simulator in Teaching Ultrasound-Guided Paracentesis, a Prospective Observational Study.

This article focuses on the development and evaluation of a reusable ultrasound-guided centesis (USGC) skill simulator designed for second-year veterinary students. The study demonstrated that after practicing with the simulator, students showed significant improvement in task scores, reduced time to completion, and increased success rates in ultrasound-guided needle placement. The simulator, made from remeltable ballistics gel with embedded fluid-filled tubes, was well received by participants who valued its realistic, low-risk learning environment and supported its incorporation into the veterinary curriculum. Limitations included visible needle tracts in the gel and some technical aspects of the performance assessment, with future research suggested to assess long-term skill retention and translation to live animal procedures.