Abstract:
Background: The effectiveness of simulation is rarely evaluated in Africa. The
aim of this study was to assess the impact of a short training course on the ability
of anesthesiology and emergency medicine residents, and non-physician
anesthetists to comply with vortex approach tool for difficult airway
management immediately after training.
Methods: Forty participants comprising anesthesiology and, emergency
medicine residents, and non-physician anesthetist were assessed on simulation
in a “can’t intubate, can’t ventilate” scenario after the training randomization
into control group (use memory only) and intervention group (use cognitive
aid). The scenario was built so that the participant was prompted to perform
External Surgical Airway. Adherence with airway management guideline
(grading checklist 0 to 14) and the External Surgical Airway’ duration and
Anesthesia Non-Technical Shills (0 to 4) were assessed as a checklist score.
Results: After training, all 40 participants (100%), the performance between
control and intervention were good in the intervention group, the mean grading
checklist score (0 to 14) was 10 (P 0.046) in the intervention group and 7 in the
control group, the mean time to attempt ESA (0 to 8) was 165s in the
intervention group and 183s in the control group, the mean score adherence to
cognitive aid was 12.6 (90%) in the intervention group, in the control group was
6.3 (60%). The group with access to the cognitive aid had higher scores in all
categories (Grading checklist and ANTS), there was a trend towards a higher
proportion of the participants in the cognitive aid group being able to oxygenate
within 3 min of entering the room.
Conclusion: The use of cognitive aid improved the participants’ adherence to the
protocol and their performance for time to attempt External Surgical Airway and
Anesthesia Non-Technical Skills are improved when a cognitive aid is present
during airway emergencies
