A Novel, Low-cost, Low-fidelity Pericardiocentesis Teaching Model

Pericardiocentesis is a high-risk/low-frequency procedure important to emergency medicine (EM). However, due to case rarity it is not often performed on a patient during residency training. Because the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic limited cadaver-based practice, we developed a novel, low-cost, low-fidelity pericardiocentesis model using three dimensional-printing technology to provide advances on prior home-made models.

Residents watched a 20-minute video about performing a pericardiocentesis and practiced both a blind and ultrasound-guided technique. We assessed model fidelity, convenience, and perceived provider competence via post-workshop questionnaire.

A total of 24/26 (93%) individuals practicing on the ultrasound-guided model and 22/24 (92%) on the blind approach model agreed or strongly agreed that the models reasonably mimicked a pericardial effusion.

Our low-cost, low-fidelity model is durable, mimics the clinical case, and is easy to use. It also addresses known limitations from prior low-fidelity models.