CE Hours: 0.25 Session Type: SimVentors Session Sub Type: Prerecorded Video Demonstration Cost: $0.00
Description:
In the times of COVID-19 aerosolizing procedures like intubations created new challenge to protect health care providers during the procedure. Quickly various models of personal protective devices as well barrier structures were developed. New workflows were created to mitigate infection risk, but as any change in practice the workflow needed to be tested and refined. Our simulation program was tasked to create modifications to enhance realism for intubation training and visualize secretions during coughing or sneezing using an in-house manufactured intubation shield. Usually coughing and sneezing are audio files triggering the connection for the learner, but we were asked to provide a cough/sneeze, that would give the learner/participant a realistic idea of how far and wide an area a COVID-19 patient’s cough/sneeze would travel. To create the intubation scenario a difficult airway task trainer was used, which allowed realistic intubation conditions. The torso was retrofitted it with a series of repurposed intravenous (IV) pressure tubing. The tubes were placed in both nostrils to simulate sneezes and a third was guided to the side of the mouth between the teeth. It was important to leave as much space as possible to avoid interference with the oral intubation. The other ends were connected to a jet-ventilator, which delivers 50 psi pressure when the lever was triggered. This way we were able to create a simulated cough/sneeze which would be propelled from the tubing and exiting the oral and nasal cavities. Sterile water would provide the immediate visual effect, which could be enhanced to show the spread. By replacing the sterile water with GLO-Germ the learners could be shown with a blacklight, how far and wide a cough could travel and infect. The presented modifications were able to be accomplished at minimal cost. GLO-Germ was the only thing which needed to be purchased for the scenarios. All the tubing used was repurposed from old 4 transducer heart set-ups and IV pump tubing. The jet-ventilator was borrowed from the Anesthesia Department, but likely a 60cc syringe would give enough force to create a similar effect. Only basic do it yourself skills were required. The task trainer development required about 4-6 hours of tinkering to get the right length of tubing and connections, running the tubing through the inside of the task trainer, and testing the process.