Video Versus Nonvideo in a Rabbit Training Model for Establishing an Emergency Front of Neck Airway in Children : A Prospective Trial

Objectives Simulating a realistic “cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate” (CICO) situation to train an “emergency front of neck airway” is difficult. It further remains unclear if provision of regular technical refreshers improves performance in the setting of a real CICO situation. The purpose of this prospective study on an established surgical rabbit cadaver tracheostomy model was to evaluate the benefit of viewing training material shortly before performing “emergency front of neck airway.” Methods Previously trained participants were randomized into 2 groups. The control group (video) was allowed to watch an instructional video before performing a tracheotomy on the training model, while the study group (nonvideo) was not. Queried outcomes included success rate, performance time, and severe secondary airway injuries between the 2 groups. Results In 29 tracheotomies performed by 29 participants, the overall success rate was 86% (92% video; 81% nonvideo, P = 0.4). Performance time was not different between the 2 groups (video: 80 s [IQR$_{25–75}$: 53–86], nonvideo 64 s [IQR$_{25–75}$: 47–102]; P = 0.93). Only in the nonvideo group, the performance time and the time between the workshops correlated positively (P = 0.048). Severe secondary injuries were noted in 4 of 29 rabbit cadavers, 2 in each group. Watching a refresher video before performing an emergency surgical tracheostomy in an infant training model did not influence the success rate and the performance time in previously trained anesthetists. Conclusions These results highlight the ease of learning, memorization, and recall of this emergency surgical tracheostomy technique and may demonstrate its applicability in a real infant CICO situation.