A new training approach in endoscopic percutaneous tracheostomy using a simulation model based on biological tissue

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Simulation
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Percutaneous tracheostomy offers a cost-effective, safe alternative to surgical tracheostomy.
• However, percutaneous tracheostomy requires significant procedural skill and has a steep learning curve.
• Traditional training methods using manikins lack anatomical realism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel simulation-based training course for percutaneous dilational tracheostomy and cricothyrotomy.
• To assess the efficacy of a sheep model for surgical training.

Main Methods:

• A simulation-based course for percutaneous dilational tracheostomy and cricothyrotomy was developed using a sheep model.
• The course was organized by the University of Turin's Department of Surgical Sciences.
• Thirty-two anesthesiologists participated in two training sessions between September 2012 and December 2014.

Main Results:

• The training course utilized a sheep model for hands-on procedural learning.
• Participants included 32 anesthesiologists (16 male, 16 female) with a mean age of 40.4 years.
• Quality assessment data were collected from course participants.

Conclusions:

• The implemented sheep model proved adequate and effective for training.
• Further research is needed to compare this model's efficacy against existing training methods.