Simulation in healthcare : journal of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare
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Difficulty with tracheal intubation is the most common cause of serious adverse respiratory events during anesthesia. Cricothyrotomy is a life-saving procedure that is seldom performed by anesthesiologists. Anesthesiology residents are traditionally trained to perform cricothyrotomy with artificial mannequins and exposed larynx models from animals. These models lack the tissue feel of performing a cricothyrotomy on a patient with difficult neck anatomy. To improve the training experience, we developed a novel training model for cricothyrotomy using a porcine larynx, which incorporates ultrasonographic examination to identify the cricothyroid membrane, and permits varying degrees of difficulty. ⋯ Use of the porcine trachea with overlying animal skin and fat provides an effective partial-task trainer for open and percutaneous surgical airway education and lends itself to integration of ultrasound imaging for real-time identification of laryngeal and tracheal anatomy.
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During basic life support (BLS) training, instructors assess learners' cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills and correct errors to ensure high-quality performance. This study aimed to investigate certified BLS instructors' assessments of CPR skills. ⋯ Certified BLS instructors assess CPR skills poorly. Particularly, improper chest compression depth and rescue breaths are not identified.