Multidisciplinary Simulation Improves Resident Confidence for Pregnant Patients Requiring Surgical Intervention

Hepatocellular adenomas are a rare but serious cause of bleeding, which is further complicated by pregnancy. Interprofessional cooperation is a key component of residency education, thus simulations designed to integrate multiple programs are mutually beneficial. This simulation details surgical and obstetric management of a pregnant patient in hemorrhagic shock from a bleeding hepatocellular adenoma. Objectives for the study were to evaluate learners' confidence to 1) prioritize the care of a pregnant patient with hemoperitoneum and hemorrhagic shock, 2) demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration with other specialties, 3) apply massive transfusion protocol (MTP) in the appropriate clinical setting, and 4) analyze critical decisions for evaluating pregnant females with severe abdominal pain.

Obstetric, general surgery, and anesthesia residents, along with labor and delivery nurses participated in a simulated clinical scenario that focused on the management of a pregnant patient in hemorrhagic shock. The learners evaluated the educational session using a standard Return on Investment in Learning survey immediately following the session.

A total of 23 residents and medical students gave feedback on the experience. The main learning objectives were met with increased confidence in the four learning objectives by 77.3-95.4% of responders. Overall, greater than 90% of participants felt the simulation was relevant to their training and realistic, with 100% responding that the course provided new, or clarified existing information for them.

A multidisciplinary simulation-based educational intervention was successful in improving learner confidence in managing a complicated surgical emergency in a pregnant patient with inter-residency cooperation.