Investigation of the effectiveness of preoperative intubation simulation using a custom-made simulator for pediatric...

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Pediatric Surgery
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Difficult airway management in children poses significant anesthetic risks.
• Preoperative planning is crucial for safe anesthesia induction in pediatric patients.
• Customized simulation offers a potential solution for complex airway cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of preoperative intubation simulation using patient-specific, custom-made simulators for children with known difficult airways.
• To assess the correlation between simulation findings and actual intraoperative intubation outcomes.
• To determine the safety and efficacy of planned intubation strategies derived from simulation.

Main Methods:

• CT imaging and 3D reconstruction were used to create custom airway simulators for pediatric patients (<15 years) with difficult airways.
• Preoperative intubation attempts were performed on the custom simulators.
• Intubation plans were formulated based on simulation results.
• Direct laryngoscopy findings were compared with intraoperative intubation findings.

Main Results:

• Simulation findings demonstrated a strong correlation with actual anesthesia induction outcomes.
• No severe hypotension or hypoxia occurred during anesthesia induction using the planned intubation method.
• Simulator creation time (up to 3 weeks) presented a challenge for emergency cases.

Conclusions:

• Preoperative intubation simulation with custom-made simulators appears beneficial for managing difficult pediatric airways.
• This approach can enhance safety and predictability during anesthesia induction.
• Further development is needed to address time constraints for emergency surgical situations.