Skill Retention of Advanced Airway Techniques After Simulation Training

The study is a prospective, randomized assessment of the skill retention following a FONA (front of neck access) training. A randomized allocation is conducted, dividing participants into two groups of 21 resident physicians each from the Medical University of Vienna, Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Medicine. The two groups train on two different practice models: a commercially available cricothyrotomy model (SimMan 3G, Laerdal Medical) and a self-made model based on instructions by Varaday et al. The skill retention reevaluation after three to four months takes place for all participants on the SimMan 3G. The study begins in both groups with an identical theoretical introduction and training of FONA. Following this, all participants are given the same practice time on the model assigned to their group, before undergoing an initial evaluation. Three to four months after the initial training session and evaluation, a reevaluation is conducted in which both groups perform FONA on the SimMan 3G. The reevaluation analysis serves as the primary goal of the study, aimed at investigating the non-inferiority of the self-made model. The SimMan 3G by Laerdal was selected as it is a widely used practice model and has been described in previous studies with medium to high fidelity. The evaluation is conducted in the form of a checklist (Difficult Airway Society), which provides a point system allowing conclusions about skill retention. Additionally, the time taken from the start to the first successful ventilation is documented and analyzed in the study as a secondary measure. After each evaluation, participants complete a questionnaire in the form of a Likert scale to assess subjective factors.