A Reproducible Peritonsillar Abscess Incision and Drainage Model for Junior Trainees

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Simulation
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) management requires specific procedural skills.
• Effective and accessible training tools are crucial for resident competency.
• Existing simulation methods may be costly or lack reproducibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and construct a low-cost, reproducible simulator for peritonsillar abscess (PTA) incision and drainage.
• To evaluate the impact of this simulator on otolaryngology trainees' confidence.

Main Methods:

• A two-part simulator was developed, featuring a manikin head and a modular PTA mold made from silicone.
• Neodymium magnets were used to attach the abscess mold to the manikin's palate.
• The simulator was implemented in an otolaryngology residency boot camp, with confidence assessed via pre- and post-training Likert scale questionnaires.

Main Results:

• A total of 30 trainees (3 medical students, 17 PGY-1, 10 PGY-2 residents) participated.
• All participants found the simulator useful for skill acquisition.
• Significant improvements in post-training confidence scores were observed, particularly for PGY-1 residents (P < .001).

Conclusions:

• The developed simulator provides an affordable and effective training method for PTA management.
• The simulator's simple design and low cost facilitate potential widespread adoption.
• This training approach can enhance resident competence in managing peritonsillar abscesses.