Training Residents to Perform Tracheotomy Using a Live Swine Model

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology
• Surgical Education

Background:

• Tracheotomy is a fundamental surgical procedure.
• A decline in tracheostomies performed by junior residents has been observed.
• Concerns exist regarding the adequacy of current resident training in this procedure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a novel tracheotomy training course.
• To assess the impact of the training on resident doctors' competence and confidence.

Main Methods:

• A training course was developed, including a lecture and practical sessions on a live animal model (swine).
• Twelve resident doctors participated in the course.
• Procedural outcomes (time, blood loss, complications) and pre/post-training questionnaire scores were recorded.

Main Results:

• All tracheotomy procedures were completed within 30 minutes with minimal blood loss (<5 ml).
• No serious acute complications occurred during the training.
• Residents showed significant improvements in surgical landmark recognition, procedural competence, confidence, and understanding of procedures and equipment (P < .05).

Conclusions:

• An animal model-based tracheotomy course is an effective training method for resident doctors.
• This training model enhances key skills and confidence necessary for performing tracheotomies.