Evaluation of a new training device to simulate the epidural and subarachnoid spaces for neuraxial anesthesia...

We are introducing a new epidural/spinal simulation unit to be used either as a part-task trainer to teach and learn regional anesthesia techniques or to be inserted in the manikin's back to allow reliable advanced simulation scenarios. The aim of this study was to determine if it may be a useful tool for training novice anesthesiologists in these procedures according to the evaluation performed by experienced anesthetists.

Experienced anesthetists performed an epidural followed by a lumbar puncture procedure on the simulator model. Various aspects of both epidural and lumbar puncture insertions were scored for likeness to a real patient using a Likert scale.

Experienced anesthetists found the simulator to be life-like for almost all the aspects of epidural or spinal insertion and that the overall impression was that the simulator could provide a useful tool for training of epidural and spinal techniques. Almost all the examiners appreciated that this device contained layers representing the anatomical boundaries of each compartment, and the module can be added blood or sponge to the epidural compartment or water to the spinal compartment to challenge the trainee with more difficult procedure such as inadvertent dural or vascular puncture or difficult catheter insertion.

This device to be inserted in a full scale manikin may be a promising tool for training of neuraxial procedures. It could be also an essential component of more complex high fidelity scenarios when neuraxial anesthesia is one of the major learning goals.