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The Impact and Description of a Training Program With a Novel Landmark Device for Needle Thoracostomy
Justin T Chu1, Thomas Engel2, Matthew Chinn1
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Background:
Needle thoracostomy (NT) is a lifesaving procedure for patients with tension pneumothorax but requires correct anatomical placement to ensure effectiveness and minimize complications. We describe a novel emergency medical services (EMS) training using a lateral NT landmark device, the SAM ThoraSite, and report provider feedback on the training.
Methods:
A 90-minute training was delivered to EMS providers. Providers completed pre- and post-training surveys regarding confidence in procedural performance, concerns about complications, and overall educational experience.
Results:
The response rate was 79.4%. Post-training confidence in correctly performing NT increased significantly (7.1 vs 9.0, P < .001). Participants also reported higher satisfaction with this training compared with prior needle thoracostomy education (6.9 vs 9.3, P < .001).
Conclusions:
A novel EMS educational session incorporating the ThoraSite landmark device improved provider confidence in NT performance and increased satisfaction with training.
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