Developing a clamshell thoracotomy training model to support hybrid teaching in simulation-based education.

Objective: Thoracotomy is an acute, time-sensitive procedure. Simulation-based education provides a safe-learning platform to learn these techniques under close supervision.

Methods: We used the spiral model and concepts of functional fidelity to guide the evolutionary design and fabrication of a hybrid thoracotomy simulator.

Intramural oesophageal haematoma following traumatic neck injury.

This case describes a previously well 90-year-old woman who presented with neck pain, swelling, dysphagia and hoarseness following a motor vehicle collision. Oesophageal oedema was visualised on CT of cervical spine and subsequent CT angiography highlighted an actively bleeding intramural oesophageal haematoma (IOH) extending from the cervical oesophagus to the carina. This rare phenomenon (IOH) has been described as a possible consequence of blunt trauma to the neck; however, we found no cases resulting from acceleration/deceleration injury.