Degrees of Reality Airway Anatomy of High-fidelity Human Patient Simulators and Airway Trainers

作者：Schebesta Karl^*; Huepfl Michael; Roessler Bernhard; Ringl Helmut; Mueller Michael P; Kimberger Oliver

来源：Anesthesiology, 2012, 116(6): 1204-1209.

DOI：10.1097/ALN.0b013e318254cf41

Background: Human patient simulators and airway training manikins are widely used to train airway management skills to medical professionals. Furthermore, these patient simulators are employed as standardized %26quot;patients%26quot; to evaluate airway devices. However, little is known about how realistic these patient simulators and airway-training manikins really are. This trial aimed to evaluate the upper airway anatomy of four high-fidelity patient simulators and two airway trainers in comparison with actual patients by means of radiographic measurements. The volume of the pharyngeal airspace was the primary outcome parameter. %26lt;br%26gt;Methods: Computed tomography scans of 20 adult trauma patients without head or neck injuries were compared with computed tomography scans of four high-fidelity patient simulators and two airway trainers. By using 14 predefined distances, two cross-sectional areas and three volume parameters of the upper airway, the manikins%26apos; similarity to a human patient was assessed. %26lt;br%26gt;Results: The pharyngeal airspace of all manikins differed significantly from the patients%26apos; pharyngeal airspace. The HPS Human Patient Simulator (METI (R), Sarasota, FL) was the most realistic high-fidelity patient simulator (6/19 [32%] of all parameters were within the 95% CI of human airway measurements). %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusion: The airway anatomy of four high-fidelity patient simulators and two airway trainers does not reflect the upper airway anatomy of actual patients. This finding may impact airway training and confound comparative airway device studies.

• 出版日期2012-6