TY - JOUR
T1 - Does Regular Practice with a “Flexible Bronchoscopy Simulator” Improve Fibreoptic Intubation Skills in Experts and Novices? A Randomized Controlled Study
AU - van Haperen, Maartje
AU - Kemper, Tom C. P. M.
AU - Hermanides, Jeroen
AU - Eberl, Susanne
AU - Hollmann, Markus W.
AU - Breel, Jennifer S.
AU - Preckel, Benedikt
N1 - Funding Information: M. van Haperen, has received funding grants from Edwards Lifesciences Corporation in the past, which had no relation to the study. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/8/1
Y1 - 2023/8/1
N2 - Background: The appropriate management of a “difficult airway” remains a challenge for novices and experienced anaesthetists. With the current available airway technologies, e.g., video laryngoscopy, flexible bronchoscopy (fibreoptic intubation (FOI)) for endotracheal intubation is decreasing, likely diminishing caregiver skills. We investigated whether bronchoscopy simulator training improved FOI skills. Methods: 72 volunteers, consisting of anaesthetists, anaesthesia residents, and nurses, performed six exercises on a bronchoscopy simulator. At baseline and after 12 months, the six exercises included one serious game (to train agility), two basic airways, and three difficult airways. After a baseline assessment, subjects were randomly allocated to the intervention group (with) or control group without bronchoscopy simulator training every six weeks for 10 min using a preloaded serious game. The primary outcome was the difference in the time to reach the carina after 12 months, as measured objectively by the simulator. The level of stress and FOI confidence after 12 months were secondary outcomes. Results: The control and intervention groups had a similar time to reach the carina in difficult airway cases and the reported stress levels, at baseline and 12 months, showed no difference. In contrast, the intervention group’s self-reported confidence in FOI skills improved more. Conclusions: Although participants rated higher in confidence, practicing FOI skills on an airway simulator with an agility game did not increase their performance in simulated challenging airway instances.
AB - Background: The appropriate management of a “difficult airway” remains a challenge for novices and experienced anaesthetists. With the current available airway technologies, e.g., video laryngoscopy, flexible bronchoscopy (fibreoptic intubation (FOI)) for endotracheal intubation is decreasing, likely diminishing caregiver skills. We investigated whether bronchoscopy simulator training improved FOI skills. Methods: 72 volunteers, consisting of anaesthetists, anaesthesia residents, and nurses, performed six exercises on a bronchoscopy simulator. At baseline and after 12 months, the six exercises included one serious game (to train agility), two basic airways, and three difficult airways. After a baseline assessment, subjects were randomly allocated to the intervention group (with) or control group without bronchoscopy simulator training every six weeks for 10 min using a preloaded serious game. The primary outcome was the difference in the time to reach the carina after 12 months, as measured objectively by the simulator. The level of stress and FOI confidence after 12 months were secondary outcomes. Results: The control and intervention groups had a similar time to reach the carina in difficult airway cases and the reported stress levels, at baseline and 12 months, showed no difference. In contrast, the intervention group’s self-reported confidence in FOI skills improved more. Conclusions: Although participants rated higher in confidence, practicing FOI skills on an airway simulator with an agility game did not increase their performance in simulated challenging airway instances.
KW - airway management
KW - airway simulator
KW - education
KW - fibreoptic intubation
KW - simulated difficult airway
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85169080461&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12165195
DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12165195
M3 - Article
C2 - 37629237
SN - 2077-0383
VL - 12
JO - Journal of clinical medicine
JF - Journal of clinical medicine
IS - 16
M1 - 5195
ER -