Cadaveric emergency cricothyrotomy training for non-surgeons using a bronchoscopy-enhanced curriculum

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Surgical Training

Background:

• Emergency cricothyrotomy is crucial for non-surgeons during rare
• cannot intubate or oxygenate
• events.
• Current training methods are variable and infrequent, necessitating improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and benefits of bronchoscopy-enhanced cricothyrotomy training in cadavers for non-surgeons.
• To evaluate the impact of this innovative training on trainee confidence and technical proficiency.

Main Methods:

• Non-surgeon providers trained on cadavers with standard methods plus bronchoscopic visualization.
• Feasibility assessed by cost, setup time, image quality, and operator needs.
• Bronchoscopy footage analyzed for technique, errors, and training effects; pre/post surveys gauged confidence and anxiety.

Main Results:

• Training was feasible (low cost, quick setup, minimal operators) and rated helpful by participants.
• Median puncture-to-tube time was 48.5 seconds; 33% of videos showed posterior tracheal wall puncture, 8% improper tube placement.
• Bronchoscopic enhancement improved visualization (83.3%) and depth assessment (91.7%), significantly increasing confidence and decreasing anxiety.

Conclusions:

• Tracheal bronchoscopy is a feasible and helpful addition to cadaveric cricothyrotomy training.
• This method effectively detects technical errors missed in standard training.
• Bronchoscopic enhancement can improve cricothyrotomy skills and potentially prevent real-world complications.