Evaluation of cadaver and mannequin-based surgical airway simulation training with emergency medicine residents

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the mannequin and cadaver-based surgical airway simulation training program for emergency medicine assistants in the ADDIE model and compare cadaver and mannequin-based surgical airway simulation training. Our work was conducted between January and March 2023, at the Emergency Medicine Department of Health Sciences University Ankara Training and Research Hospital, and at the Dissection Laboratory of the Department of Anatomy at Hacettepe University. First of all, a pretest on the surgical airway was administered to the 31 participants. A presentation on surgical airway was made. After that, the assistants were allocated to the cadaver and mannequin groups according to their experience being higher and lower than 2 years and their pretest scores. Skill application was demonstrated to the 16 participants in the mannequin group on a 3D cricothyrotomy model, and then, the participants performed it. The application of this skill was shown to the 15 participants in the cadaver group on a whole-body cadaver, and then, the participants performed it. At the end of the training, the training documents were distributed to the participants.The data was recorded on a form containing a scale for training satisfaction, an evaluation guide form, and a form assessing the number of skill attempts, procedure duration, and procedural success using a 3D skill performance model.11 of the 16 participants who performed the first application on a cadaver applied the same skill on a cadaver one month later. Similarly, 10 of the 15 participants who performed the first application on a mannequin applied the same skill on a mannequin a month later, and the results were recorded in the evaluation guide. As a result of the study, it was determined that the satisfaction levels of the participants in both groups were high. Following the first application, more than half of the participants in both groups were successful. Regarding the skill performance test, the success ratio in the first application was found to be statistically significantly higher in the mannequin group (p<0.01). In the second application a month later, 11 participants in the cadaver group and 10 participants in the mannequin group were all successful. In conclusion, we recommend that cadaver and/or mannequin-based surgical airway simulation training should be incorporated into the Emergency Medicine Specialty Training program, and it should be repeated at regular intervals. We also believe that while the cost and avaliabilty of cadavers limit their use, mannequins created with 3D printers are more suitable for clinical use as mannequins yield similar results to training provided with cadavers.