Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 2, 2026
08:08
Simulator Training for Endovascular Neurosurgery
Published on: May 6, 2020
4.0K
Does simulation work? Monthly trauma simulation and procedural training are associated with decreased time to
Caroline Park1, Jennifer Grant, Ryan P Dumas
1From the Division of Acute Care Surgery, Department of General Surgery (C.P., J.G., R.D., L.D., T.S., D.J.S., S.L., K.A., M.C.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
|December 6, 2019
Summary
Monthly simulation training significantly reduced time to critical trauma interventions for surgical residents. This approach enhances proficiency in procedures like tube thoracostomy and resuscitative thoracotomy, improving patient care.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Training
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Surgical residency training in trauma procedures is often limited to annual courses with variable effectiveness.
- Current training lacks robust data on impact on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
- There's a need for improved, consistent training methods for high-acuity, low-frequency trauma procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of monthly case-based simulation training on the time to critical interventions in trauma patients.
- To assess the effectiveness of a structured simulation program in enhancing surgical resident proficiency.
- To determine if simulation training improves efficiency in performing bedside trauma procedures.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, observational study at a Level I trauma center (July 2018 - February 2019).
- Implementation of monthly case-based simulation for surgical residents (post-graduate years 1-5) following initial basic trauma procedure training.
- Analysis of time to intervention for procedures like percutaneous sheath placement, tube thoracostomy, and resuscitative thoracotomy in trauma bay activations (pre- and post-intervention).
Main Results:
- Median time to resuscitative thoracotomy decreased from 14 to 3 minutes (p=0.02) post-simulation.
- Median time to tube thoracostomy decreased from 13 to 6 minutes (p=0.04) post-simulation.
- Pearson's correlation showed moderate relationships between simulation training and reduced time to intervention (r=0.46 for tube thoracostomy).
Conclusions:
- Routine trauma simulation and procedural training are associated with decreased time to critical interventions.
- Implementing simulation programs is essential for training residents in high-acuity, low-frequency trauma situations.
- Further research is needed to investigate the effect of simulation on patient outcomes.
