Main Theme: Airway
Introduction
Paediatric airway emergencies are low frequency but high risk. There exists a huge variation in clinician experience and confidence. Aside from optional infrequent courses, clinicians lack exposure to regular rigid bronchoscopy simulation training. Our aim is to create a clear concise video resource and app to improve multidisciplinary competence managing the acute paediatric airway. We propose frequent protected in-person multidisciplinary departmental simulation training using our education model.
Methods
We created an app accessible by QR code containing a 90 second instructional video on assembling the rigid ventilating bronchoscope and foreign body retrieval kit, including links to up-to-date sizing charts and national paediatric airway guidelines. 10 ENT doctors from SHO to consultant were tested assembling the equipment before and after accessing the app. 3 domains were tested: confidence, performance and set up times. Statistical testing was conducted using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
Results
Confidence score significantly increased from 62 to 91% (p<0.005). Performance score significantly increased from 70 to 89% (p<0.01). Set up time significantly reduced from 161 to 106 seconds on average (p<0.005). Improvements were seen across all grades, most notably in the SHO group. Qualitative analysis was also conducted.
Conclusion
We present an easy-to-access and quick paediatric airway guide for use by the multidisciplinary team when managing time-sensitive emergency airway cases. We are rolling the model out to all teams involved in caring for these children including anaesthetics, scrub nurses and ODPs with the eventual aim to run a biannual departmental in-person mandatory refresher course.