# Grape surgery
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{{Short description|Use of grapes in surgical simulation}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
'''Grape surgery''' is the use of [grape](/source/grape)s as training models in [surgical simulation](/source/surgical_simulation)s. A video of the robotic [da Vinci Surgical System](/source/da_Vinci_Surgical_System) peeling and stitching the skin of a grape, accompanied by the text "they did surgery on a grape", became an [Internet meme](/source/Internet_meme) in 2018.
==Medical applications==
Grapes have been utilised as low-cost training models for surgical simulations, particularly in the fields of [microsurgery](/source/microsurgery) and [ophthalmology](/source/ophthalmology).[{{cite journal |last1=Banoub |first1=Raphael G |last2=Sanghvi |first2=Harshal |last3=Gill |first3=Gurnoor S |last4=Paredes |first4=Alfredo A |last5=Bains |first5=Harnaina K |last6=Patel |first6=Anita |last7=Agarwal |first7=Ankur |last8=Gupta |first8=Shailesh |date=2024-12-22 |title=Enhancing Ophthalmic Care: The Transformative Potential of Digital Twins in Healthcare |journal=Cureus |volume=16 |issue=12 |publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC |pages=7–8 |doi=10.7759/cureus.76209 |pmid=39840199 |pmc=11750212 |issn=2168-8184 |doi-access=free}}][{{cite journal |last1=Santos |first1=Deivid Ramos dos |last2=Teixeira |first2=Renan Kleber Costa |last3=Pimentel |first3=Antônio Leonardo Jatahi Cavalcanti |last4=Corrêa |first4=Wender de Jesus Pena |last5=Araújo |first5=Nayara Pontes de |last6=Calvo |first6=Faustino Chaves |last7=Barros |first7=Rui Sérgio Monteiro de |year=2020 |title=O oftalmologista e as uvas: Um modelo de treinamento microcirúrgico |trans-title=The ophthalmologist and the grapes: A microsurgical training model |journal=Revista Brasileira de Oftalmologia |language=pt, en |volume=79 |issue=6 |pages=366–369 |doi=10.5935/0034-7280.20200080 |doi-broken-date=27 July 2025 |url=https://www.scielo.br/j/rbof/a/zPtpsGrZVgTSGDgbXTM3cWD |via=[SciELO](/source/SciELO) |archive-date=18 January 2026 |access-date=20 July 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260118064115/https://www.scielo.br/j/rbof/a/zPtpsGrZVgTSGDgbXTM3cWD/?format=html&lang=pt |url-status=live }}]
In ophthalmology, grapes serve as a cheaper, and more readily available, alternative to [virtual reality](/source/virtual_reality) training and physical models, such as animal eyes, artificial model eyes, or human eyes sourced from [eye bank](/source/eye_bank)s or donated [cadaver](/source/cadaver)s.[{{cite journal |last1=Zhang |first1=Zhaotian |last2=Li |first2=Songshan |last3=Sun |first3=Limei |last4=Yan |first4=Wenjia |last5=Huang |first5=Li |last6=Lu |first6=Jinglin |last7=Wang |first7=Qiong |last8=Li |first8=Mengke |last9=Zheng |first9=Danying |last10=Liu |first10=Yizhi |last11=Ding |first11=Xiaoyan |year=2022 |title=Skills assessment after a grape-based microsurgical course for ophthalmology residents: randomised controlled trial |journal=[British Journal of Ophthalmology](/source/British_Journal_of_Ophthalmology) |volume=107 |issue=9 |pages=1395–1402 |doi=10.1136/bjophthalmol-2022-321135 |pmid=35701080 |pmc=10447371 |doi-access=free}}][{{cite journal |last1=Solyman |first1=Omar |last2=Serhan |first2=Hashem Abu |last3=Kamel |first3=Hesham F. |last4=Eldib |first4=Amgad |last5=Obaia |first5=Ahmed S. Abo |last6=Aref |first6=Amr |last7=Sayed-Ahmed |first7=Ibrahim Osama |last8=Khashaba |first8=Mohamed |last9=Khodeiry |first9=Mohamed M. |last10=Abushanab |first10=Mokhtar M. |year=2022 |title=A Novel Cost-Effective Simulation Model for Continuous Curvilinear Capsulorhexis |journal=[Clinical Ophthalmology](/source/Clinical_Ophthalmology_(journal)) |volume=16 |pages=2759–2764 |doi=10.2147/OPTH.S378298 |pmid=36046573 |doi-access=free}}] The elastic skin of a grape has similar mechanical [tension](/source/Tension_(physics)) to the [lens capsule](/source/lens_capsule) of the human eye and has been identified as a potentially useful model for [continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis](/source/continuous_curvilinear_capsulorhexis) training.[{{cite journal |last1=Figueira |first1=Edwin C. |last2=Wang |first2=Louis W. |last3=Brown |first3=Tani M. |last4=Masselos |first4=Katherine |last5=Pandya |first5=Vivek B. |last6=Dauber |first6=Sophia L. |last7=Lee |first7=Katelyn J.Y. |last8=Amjadi |first8=Shahriar |last9=Skalicky |first9=Simon E. |last10=Francis |first10=Ian C. |year=2008 |title=The grape: An appropriate model for continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis |journal=Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery |volume=34 |issue=9 |pages=1610–1611 |doi=10.1016/j.jcrs.2008.04.049 |pmid=18721730 }}] However, grapes cannot fully replicate the challenge of this procedure as they lack any structure analogous to the [anterior chamber](/source/anterior_chamber) of the eye.[
Some [robot-assisted surgery](/source/robot-assisted_surgery) systems have used grapes as training models to demonstrate the precision capabilities of the system, by performing tasks such as peeling the delicate skin and stitching it back together.][{{cite web |last1=Feldman |first1=Brian |date=26 November 2018 |title=They Did Surgery on a Grape |url=http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/11/why-is-everyone-saying-they-did-surgery-on-a-grape.html |url-access=registration |website=[New York Magazine](/source/New_York_(magazine)) |access-date=20 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126201420/http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/11/why-is-everyone-saying-they-did-surgery-on-a-grape.html |archive-date=26 November 2018 |url-status=live}}][{{cite web |last1=Nagesh |first1=Ashitha |date=26 November 2018 |title=New meme alert: Did you know they did surgery on a grape? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/4a466b39-8b03-4717-bde8-822760b430fa |website=[BBC](/source/BBC) |access-date=20 July 2025 |archive-date=17 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250917110718/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/4a466b39-8b03-4717-bde8-822760b430fa |url-status=live }}][{{cite web |last1=Santiago |first1=Amanda Luz Henning |date=26 November 2018 |title='They did surgery on a grape' is the weird meme that's your new obsession |url=https://mashable.com/article/they-did-surgery-on-a-grape-meme |website=[Mashable](/source/Mashable) |access-date=20 July 2025 |archive-date=10 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250910054459/https://mashable.com/article/they-did-surgery-on-a-grape-meme |url-status=live }}]
==Internet meme==
[[File:Grape Hospital Diorama (cropped).jpg|thumb|alt=A hand-made model of a hospital room separated by a curtain, with grapes standing in for patients. On the left of the curtain, there are two "patients" wearing surgical masks, one in a bed connected to an electrocardiogram and one sitting down on a chair besides it. On the right, there is a surgical bed where the da Vinci Surgical System performs surgery.|A diorama of a hospital room with the [da Vinci Surgical System](/source/da_Vinci_Surgical_System) performing surgery on a grape, with other grapes waiting nearby]]
Footage and images of the [da Vinci Surgical System](/source/da_Vinci_Surgical_System) peeling the skin of a grape became part of an [internet meme](/source/internet_meme) in November 2018.[{{cite web |last1=Hess |first1=Peter |date=26 November 2018 |title="They Did Surgery on a Grape" Meme Began With Legally Suspect Medical Tool |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/51209-they-did-surgery-on-a-grape-but-is-the-grape-okay |website=[Inverse](/source/Inverse_(website)) |access-date=20 July 2025 |archive-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127110402/https://www.inverse.com/article/51209-they-did-surgery-on-a-grape-but-is-the-grape-okay |url-status=live }}] The original footage of the system being used on a grape was published on [YouTube](/source/YouTube) in 2010, and another video featuring the stitching of a grape's skin back together was posted there in 2014.[
[Cheddar TV](/source/Cheddar_(TV_channel)) posted a video on 7 July 2017 showing the 2010 footage, with the onscreen caption "they did surgery on a grape". This was [screenshot](/source/screenshot)ted and posted on [Instagram](/source/Instagram) by the meme account ''simpledorito'' repeating the caption in the post's description.][ The phrase and imagery went [viral](/source/Viral_phenomenon), with other [social media](/source/social_media) users, and some [brand account](/source/brand_account)s, expanding on the meme's format. Imagery of a robot performing surgery on a grape at the [Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre](/source/Peter_MacCallum_Cancer_Centre) from May 2018 was incorporated into the meme.][ The virality of the meme has been attributed to the vagueness and absurdity of the phrase "they did surgery on a grape", and the lack of context provided.][
==Other fruit models==
[Banana](/source/Banana)s are used as a low-fidelity, low-cost model in the training of intraoral suture and some techniques in the treatment of ingrown toenails.][{{cite journal |last1=Abbade |first1=Luciana Patrícia Fernandes |last2=Silva |first2=Fabrício |last3=Guiotoku |first3=Marcelo M. |last4=Miot |first4=Hélio Amante |title=Banana: A New Simulation Model to Teach Surgical Techniques for Treating Ingrown Toenails |journal=Dermatologic Surgery |date=August 2013 |volume=39 |issue=8 |pages=1274–1276 |doi=10.1111/dsu.12235}}][{{cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Ying |last2=Cui |first2=Nian‐Hui |last3=Ge |first3=Wen‐Shu |last4=Xie |first4=Shang |last5=An |first5=Na |last6=He |first6=Xiao‐Yong |last7=Jiang |first7=Yong |last8=Wang |first8=Dian‐Can |title=The application of an intraoral banana peel suturing model in surgical training of dental students |journal=Journal of Dental Education |date=September 2023 |volume=87 |issue=9 |pages=1315–1320 |doi=10.1002/jdd.13250}}] However, banana peel is an inferior model to a [3D-printed](/source/3D-printed) model in intraoral suture training.[{{cite journal |last1=Bertout |first1=Flore |last2=Louisy |first2=Agathe |last3=Chaux |first3=Anne‐Gaëlle |last4=Hascoët |first4=Emilie |last5=Lesclous |first5=Philippe |last6=Cloitre |first6=Alexandra |title=Comparative Study of 3D ‐Printed and Banana Model for Suture and Biopsy Training in Dental Education: A Randomised Controlled Trial |journal=European Journal of Dental Education |date=30 December 2025 |doi=10.1111/eje.70087}}]
==See also==
*[Grape therapy](/source/Grape_therapy)
*[Wine as medicine](/source/Wine_as_medicine)
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Commons-inline}}
{{Portal bar|Food|Medicine|Technology}}
Category:Grape
Category:Internet memes introduced in 2018
Category:Medical simulation
Category:Surgical robots
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Grape surgery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grape_surgery) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grape_surgery?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.