Transcutaneous cardiac pacing competency among junior residents undergoing an ACLS course: impact of a modified high fidelity manikin

• Published in: Advances in simulation (London) 2018, Vol.3 (1), p.24-24, Article 24
• Main Authors: Ranger, Caroline, Paradis, Marie-Rose, Morris, Judy, Perron, Roger, Drolet, Pierre, Cournoyer, Alexis, Paquet, Jean, Robitaille, Arnaud
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advanced cardiac life support; Bradycardia; Cardiac arrhythmia; Mannequins; Pulse rate; Simulation; Simulation fidelity; Simulation mannequin; Simulation training; Teaching; Training; Transcutaneous pacing; Workshops
• ISSN: 2059-0628; 2059-0628
• DOI: 10.1186/s41077-018-0082-5

Transcutaneous cardiac pacing (TCP) is recommended to treat unstable bradycardia. Simulation might improve familiarity with this low-frequency procedure. Current mannequins fail to reproduce key features of TCP, limiting their usefulness. The objective of this study was to measure the impact of a modified high-fidelity mannequin on the ability of junior residents to achieve six critical tasks for successful TCP. First-year residents from various postgraduate programs taking an advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) course were enrolled two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). Both cohorts received the same standardized course content. An ALS simulator® mannequin was used to demonstrate and practice TCP during the bradycardia workshop of the first cohort (control cohort, 2015) and a modified high-fidelity mannequin that reproduces key features of TCP was used for the second cohort (intervention cohort, 2016). Participants were tested after training with a simulation scenario requiring TCP. Performances were graded based on six critical tasks. The primary outcome was the successful use of TCP, defined as having completed all tasks. Eighteen participants in the intervention cohort completed all tasks during the simulation scenario compared to none in the control cohort (36 vs 0%,