Simulation training for urgent postnatal fetal tracheal balloon removal: Two learning methods.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Fetal Surgery
• Neonatal Care

Background:

• Severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in fetuses necessitates interventions like fetal endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) to improve survival.
• Urgent removal of the FETO balloon post-delivery is critical to prevent airway obstruction but requires specialized training.
• The optimal training method for medical staff in urgent FETO balloon removal remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of in-person lectures versus online videos for training medical students in urgent FETO balloon removal.
• To evaluate the impact of different training modalities on the speed and success of simulated FETO balloon removal procedures.

Main Methods:

• 24 medical students were randomized into two groups: one receiving in-person lecture training, the other online video training.
• Both training methods covered endoscopic instrument setup, tracheal landmarks, and balloon removal techniques.
• Participants were assessed using a high-fidelity simulator, measuring time for instrument setup, intubation, balloon localization, and removal attempts.

Main Results:

• In-person training led to significantly faster instrument setup times compared to video training (p < 0.01).
• No significant differences were observed between the groups in the time taken to intubate and locate the FETO balloon or in the number of removal attempts.
• Overall simulation performance, particularly regarding successful balloon removal, was comparable between the two training methods.

Conclusions:

• Both in-person and online video training methods are equally effective for teaching urgent FETO balloon removal.
• Medical staff can be adequately trained in critical FETO balloon removal procedures through either modality.
• Simulation-based assessment confirms comparable proficiency gained from distinct training approaches.