I’m showing my age clearly because when I searched for that quote online to get the youtube clip of Homer Simpson uttering the words in wistful admiration of a power station powered by hog fat, it was nowhere to be seen. Now that I think of it, that episode probably predates youtube.

Anyway, down to business.

Khiem Ngo has just joined the Bendigo ED Education team as Co-DEMT. I have him to thank for bringing us this innovation.

When you have eaten all the crispy pork belly you can possibly eat (impossible?) use the left overs to create a peripheral IVC ultrasound phantom that is more realistic than any you will buy commercially.

Ingredients

• Pork belly or waste pig skin (ask your butcher as they will often have some that is destined to be tossed out)
• Long skinny balloons used for making balloon animals
• Water

Method

• Fill balloon with water but don’t distend it. Tie it off.
• Cut pig skin into strips 4-5 cm wide and 15 cm long (2 inch x 6 inch)
• Blunt dissect a tract through one of the fascial planes. We used a dilator from an expired pigtail catheter set but you could probably use a biro or pencil
• Use a pair of long artery forceps to feed your balloon through the tract
• Massage out any air bubbles along the tract