Mobile Cricothyrotomy Simulation Cart Improves Anesthesia Providers' Confidence, Technical Skills, and Procedure Time.

Cricothyrotomy is an invasive airway used in "cannot intubate, cannot ventilate" events and can be taught using simulation. A mobile cricothyrotomy simulation for 66 anesthesia providers included an initial cricothyrotomy attempt (pretest), education, practice and feedback, and a second cricothyrotomy attempt (posttest). Provider confidence, skills, and procedure time were measured. Comparison of the posttest to the pretest showed significant improvement in: (a) provider confidence scores (Z = 7.01, P < .001), (b) technical skills (Global Rating Scale for Cricothyrotomy: Z = 7.05, P <.001; Checklist for Cricothyrotomy Performance: Z = 7.07, P < .001), and (c) procedure time (Z = 2.68, P = .007). The mobile cricothyrotomy simulation significantly improved anesthesia providers' confidence, cricothyrotomy skills, and procedure time.

Duke Scholars

Author Gavin Martin Anesthesiology, Regional