Pilot Simulation Task Trainer for Prehospital Management of Neck Hemorrhage

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Trauma Surgery
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Penetrating neck injuries (PNI) are a significant cause of death, particularly in individuals under 45.
• Exsanguination due to vascular trauma is the primary cause of mortality in PNI.
• Effective prehospital management protocols and training for first responders are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a prehospital management algorithm for penetrating neck injuries.
• To create a novel, cost-effective synthetic medical simulator for PNI hemorrhage training.
• To pilot a training curriculum for athletic trainers and physicians, specifically within the context of ice hockey.

Main Methods:

• A literature review informed the development of a three-step PNI management algorithm.
• A synthetic neck simulator was engineered using CT scans to replicate human tissue properties.
• The curriculum and simulator were implemented in a training session for 180 National Hockey League (NHL) athletic trainers and physicians.

Main Results:

• The developed algorithm focuses on identifying bleeding type, controlling hemorrhage, and facilitating patient transfer.
• The synthetic simulator successfully simulated both arterial and venous bleeding scenarios.
• Post-training feedback from participants was highly positive, with an average rating of 4.7/5.

Conclusions:

• Simulation-based training is an effective and cost-efficient method for improving prehospital management of rare, high-risk PNI.
• The developed algorithm, simulator, and curriculum provide a valuable resource for training healthcare professionals.
• This initiative, in collaboration with the NHL, addresses a critical gap in managing PNI among athletic personnel.