2006 OPEN FORUM Abstracts
Intubation and Difficult Airway Training With a VIRTUAL EDUCATION AND Simulation Technology Lab
John S Emberger, BS, RRT; Francis A
Gott, AS, RRT; Charles Fort, RN, MSN, Departments of Respiratory Care and
Academic Affairs, Christiana Care Health System, Newark DE.
Background: Respiratory
Care Practitioners (RCPs) are the primary intubators at Christiana Care Health
System facilities in code and emergent situations. RCP intubation certification
includes an anesthesia rotation for insertion of both Endotracheal Tubes (ETT)
and Laryngeal Mask Airways (LMA). The current study was designed to determine
if a Virtual Education and Simulation Technology (VEST) lab session would improve the skills and
knowledge of our RCPs in intubation and difficult airway management.
Methods: We created a session of nine difficult airway
scenarios in our VEST lab using a METI Human Patient Simulator. An assessment of policy knowledge, technique
and speed of inserting both ETTs and LMAs was performed before and after
attending the VEST lab session.
Results: Fourteen RCPs
attended the VEST lab sessions.
| Assessment Item | Pre-VEST Lab(M±SD) | Post-VEST Lab(M±SD) |
| Complete knowledge of airway policy | 57% | 100% |
| LMA Confidence Level Score1 | 3.4 ± 1.3 | 4.0 ± 1.1 |
| LMA Technique Score2 | 3.4 ± 1.1 | 5.0 ± 0.0 * |
| Time To Place LMA (seconds) | 47 ± 16 | 21 ± 8 * |
| ETT Confidence Level Score1 | 4.2 ± 0.9 | 4.4 ±0.7 |
| ETT Technique Score2 | 5.0 ± 0.0 | 5.0 ± 0.0 |
| Time To Place ETT (seconds) | 31 ± 10 | 17 ± 7 * |
1Confidence scale: 1 to 5, where 1 = not confident to 5 = very
confident scored by RCP
2Technique scale: 1 to 5,
where 1= poor to 5= excellent, based on procedure technique scored by
preceptor.
* p < 0.05 (Standard paired t-test)
Conclusions: The
VEST lab session did improve knowledge of
airway policy and may help RCPs respond appropriately to airway situations at
our health system. The VEST lab session did (statistically and
clinically) improve technique and reduce time to place an LMA. Confidence and technique of ETT placement
were already high, but VEST lab training statistically significantly reduced time to
place an ETT. VEST lab sessions can be a valuable part of
maintaining or improving skills such as intubation and LMA placement. Future
studies should evaluate how long these improvements are maintained, or at what
intervals staff should attend VEST lab sessions.