Tube thoracostomy training with a medical simulator is associated with faster, more successful performance of the procedure

A novel simulation model for tube thoracostomy

Objective

Tube thoracostomy is a life-saving procedure that must be performed competently and expeditiously by emergency care providers. The primary objective of this project was to develop a simple, easily-reproducible, and realistic simulation model for tube thoracostomy placement by learners of emergency medicine.

Methods

This chest tube simulator utilizes two slabs of pork ribs with associated intercostal muscle and fascial planes to aid learners in identifying anatomic landmarks, palpating intercostal spaces, and performing blunt dissection in a manner that approximates human anatomy. Holes are cut on both sides of a 1.8-bushel capacity rectangular plastic clothing hamper, and rib slabs are secured to the hamper with zip ties or metal wire. A bed pillow with plastic cover is then placed inside of the plastic hamper to simulate lung tissue. The rib-hamper complex is then wrapped with cellophane or elastic compression bandages to further anchor the rib slabs and simulate skin and subcutaneous tissues.

Results

The initial cost of our thoracostomy model is approximately $50, much less than the $1,000-$3,000 cost for a commercial model. Although the hamper and pillow can be reused an indefinite number of times, the other components of our model must be replaced occasionally. Assuming a lifespan of 1,000 uses, our model costs approximately $1.78 per attempt, compared to $4.00 per attempt with the cheapest commercial mannequin system. In fact, assuming a longer useful lifespan for the mannequin does not substantially improve this comparison (e.g. $3.10 versus $1.77 per attempt for a 10,000 attempt lifespan for the commercial mannequin), largely due to the higher cost of commercial replacement skin pads when compared to the components consumed in our model with each attempt.

Conclusions

We describe a porcine thoracostomy model that simulates the look and feel of human ribs for purposes of tube thoracostomy training, although it could also be used for thoracentesis and thoracotomy simulation. This model is relatively cheap (costing around $50) and easy to produce within a few minutes utilizing commonly-available materials. Further study is needed to determine whether an inexpensive model like ours provides the same educational value as more expensive commercial mannequin models.

Development and validation of the first performance assessment scale for interdisciplinary chest tube insertion: a prospective multicenter study

PURPOSE

Chest tube insertion requires interdisciplinary teamwork including an emergency surgeon or physician in conjunction with a nurse. The purpose of the study was to validate an interdisciplinary performance assessment scale for chest tube insertion developed from literature analysis.

METHODS

This prospective study took place in the simulation center of the University of Paris. The participants included untrained emergency/intensivist residents and trained novice emergency/intensivist physicians with less than 2 years of clinical experience and 6 months following training in thoracostomy, and nursing students. Each interdisciplinary pair participated in a high-fidelity simulation session. Two independent observers (O1 and O2) evaluated 61 items. Internal coherence using the Cronbach's α coefficient, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and correlation of scores by regression analysis (R2) were analyzed. Comparison between O1 and O2 mean scores used a t test and F test for SDs. p Value < 0.05 was significant.

RESULTS

From an initial selection of 11,277 articles, 19 were selected to create the initial scale. The final scale comprises 61 items scored out of 80, including 24 items for nursing items, 24 items for medical competence, and 13 mixed items for the competence of both. 40 simulations including 80 participants were evaluated. Cronbach's α = 0.76, ICC = 0.92, R2 = 0.88. There was no difference between the observers' assessments of means (p = 0.82) and SDs (p = 0.92). Score was 51.6 ± 5.9 in the group of untrained residents and nursing student, and 57.2 ± 2.8 in the trained group of novice physicians and nursing students (p = 0.0003).

CONCLUSIONS

This first performance assessment scale for interdisciplinary chest tube insertion is valid and reliable.

Critical Appraisal of Emergency Medicine Educational Research: The Best Publications of 2016

OBJECTIVES

The objectives were to critically appraise the emergency medicine (EM) medical education literature published in 2016 and review the highest-quality quantitative and qualitative studies.

METHODS

A search of the English language literature in 2016 querying MEDLINE, Scopus, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), and PsychInfo identified 510 papers related to medical education in EM. Two reviewers independently screened all of the publications using previously established exclusion criteria. The 25 top-scoring quantitative studies based on methodology and all six qualitative studies were scored by all reviewers using selected scoring criteria that have been adapted from previous installments. The top-scoring articles were highlighted and trends in medical education research were described.

RESULTS

Seventy-five manuscripts met inclusion criteria and were scored. Eleven quantitative and one qualitative papers were the highest scoring and are summarized in this article.

CONCLUSION

This annual critical appraisal series highlights the best EM education research articles published in 2016.

Development and Utilization of 3D Printed Material for Thoracotomy Simulation

Medical simulation is a widely used training modality that is particularly useful for procedures that are technically difficult or rare. The use of simulations for educational purposes has increased dramatically over the years, with most emergency medicine (EM) programs primarily using mannequin-based simulations to teach medical students and residents. As an alternative to using mannequin, we built a 3D printed models for practicing invasive procedures. Repeated simulations may help further increase comfort levels in performing an emergency department (ED) thoracotomy in particular, and perhaps this can be extrapolated to all invasive procedures. Using this model, a simulation training conducted with EM residents at an inner city teaching hospital showed improved confidence. A total of 21 residents participated in each of the three surveys [(1) initially, (2) after watching the educational video, and (3) after participating in the simulation]. Their comfort levels increased from baseline after watching the educational video (9.5%). The comfort level further improved from baseline after performing the hands on simulation (71.4%).

A review of the management of complex para-pneumonic effusion in adults

A complex para-pneumonic effusion is a descriptive term for exudative effusions, which complicate or are likely to complicate the anatomy of the pleural space after pneumonia. We performed an online search was performed using the resources PubMed and Google Scholar to provide an update on the management of such effusions based on review of published literature. Search terms including pleural effusion (PE), parapneumonic effusion, and empyema were used. Relevant studies were identified and original articles were studied, compared and summarized. References in these articles were examined for relevance and included where appropriate. Studies involving pediatric patients were excluded. Management of para-pneumonic PE has changed tremendously over the last decade. As we accumulate more evidence in this area, approach to pleural fluid drainage is becoming more specific and guideline based. An example of a practice changing study in this aspect is the Multi-center Intrapleural Streptokinase Trial (MIST) 2 trial which demonstrated that a combination of intra-pleural tPA and DNAse improved outcomes in pleural infections compared to DNase or t-PA alone. More randomized control trials are needed to describe the role of surgical techniques like VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) when MIST 2 protocol fails; this combination has revolutionized the management of empyema in recently.