Search

Medical simulation provides a realistic environment for practitioners to experience a planned clinical event in a controlled educational setting. We established a simulation model composed of synthetic ballistic gelatin that provided an inexpensive high-fidelity model for our extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) team members to develop, master, and maintain clinical skills necessary for percutaneous cervical or femoral cannulation. The simulation component includes a cervical torso or femoral percutaneous synthetic gelatin model that is attached to either a static fluid model or to the high-fidelity perfusion simulator. Either model can be accessed with ultrasound guidance, cannulated with appropriately sized cannula, and connected to an in situ ECMO circuit. This article explains how the model is made and connected to the simulator with the purpose of re-creating this high-fidelity experience at any institution., (© Copyright 2021 AMSECT.)

Our high-fidelity simulation model provides a realistic example for health-care professionals to experience cannulation, initiation, and hemodynamic stabilization during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy. This educational experience brings a variety of critical care specialties together, in a controlled simulation setting, to develop, master, and maintain clinical skills. This may include perfusionists, ECMO specialists, surgical technicians, registered nurses, physicians, and students. The simulation component includes a unique vascular access pad that is attached to either a static fluid model or to the Califia perfusion simulator system (Biomed Simulation, Inc., San Diego, CA). This collective high-fidelity simulation model can be surgically cannulated via a cutdown technique using an appropriately sized cannula and connected to an in situ ECMO circuit. This article explains the educational strategy, how the surgical pad is made, and the simulator connections so that any hospital can re-create this experience.