Two methods for teaching basic upper airway sonography

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare hands-on gel phantom versus instructional video teaching methods to improve anesthesia residents and staff members' ability to correctly identify airway structures using ultrasound on a human volunteer.

Randomized, controlled trial.

Simulation laboratory.

Fifty-four anesthesiology resident and staff members (27 anesthesiologists and 27 anesthesiology residents) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Study subjects were randomized into one of three groups: control (standard medical knowledge), video training, or gel phantom training. After providing study instructions and training (if relevant), study subjects were asked to perform sonoanatomy identification of the thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, cricothyroid membrane, and the tracheal rings in both the transverse and longitudinal views. Study subjects then returned 14 to 24 days following initial assessment for evaluation of skills retention. They were again instructed to identify the same airway structures as during the initial assessment with scoring performed by the same assessor.

All group characteristics were similar at baseline and follow-up. Both training tools produced a learning effect at baseline and follow-up compared to standard anesthesia training. No differences in overall airway structure identification success between groups receiving video versus gel airway phantom training were observed.

Use of either a low cost, airway gel phantom training model for hands-on training or a simple instructional teaching video can be used in a single training session to improve staff anesthesiologist and anesthesia resident knowledge and skills for ultrasound identification of upper airway anatomy.