Easy-to-implement oral cavity modification to expand simulation-based training in airway management

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Dental Anatomy
• Airway Management

Background:

• Dental and oral injuries can occur during intubation and general anesthesia, particularly in emergencies.
• Securing the airway often takes priority over preanesthetic evaluation in critical situations.
• This study explores enhancing manikin fidelity for emergency airway management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the feasibility of modifying oral cavities in simulation manikins.
• To increase dental fidelity in manikins for realistic airway management training.
• To simulate common dental trauma and anatomical variations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Laerdal manikins with interchangeable Polyester and Vinyl dentition sets.
• Employed dental acrylic and impression materials for modifications.
• Fabricated simulated dental trauma (fracture, luxation, avulsion) and anatomical variations (caries, malocclusion).

Main Results:

• Modified manikin dentition to simulate realistic dental injuries and conditions.
• Engineered tooth luxation under laryngoscope pressure and simulated bleeding.
• Demonstrated the feasibility of improving manikin realism with simple modifications.

Conclusions:

• Confirmed the feasibility of fabricating anatomical variations to enhance manikin fidelity.
• Identified potential for future modifications to simulate more complex airway challenges.
• Proposed future research to quantify skill improvement in airway management using enhanced manikins.