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Background Mental practice (MP) is defined as the ‘symbolic rehearsal of a physical activity in the absence of any gross-muscular movements' and has been used in sport and music to enhance performance. In healthcare, MP has been demonstrated to improve technical skill performance of surgical residents. However, its effect on crisis resource management (CRM) skills has yet to be determined. We aimed to investigate the effect of warm-up with MP on CRM skill performance during a simulated crisis scenario. Methods Following ethics board approval, 40 anaesthesia residents were randomized. The intervention group performed 20 min of MP of a script based on CRM principles. The control group received a 20 min didactic teaching session on an unrelated topic. Each subject then managed a simulated cardiac arrest. Two CRM experts rated the video recordings of each performance using the previously validated Ottawa GRS. The time to start chest compressions, administer epinephrine, and give blood was recorded. Results There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups: total Ottawa GRS score was 24.50 (18.63–28.88 [6.50–34.50]) (median (inter-quartile range [range]) vs 20.50 (13.00–29.13 [6.50–34.50]) (P=0.53); the time to start chest compressions 146.0 s (138.0–231.0 [115.0–323.0]) vs 162.5 s (138.0–231.0 [100.0–460.0]) (P=0.27), the time to epinephrine administration 163.0 s (151.0–187.0 [111.0–337.0]) vs 187.0 s (164.0–244.0 [115.0–310.0]) (P=0.09), and the time to blood administration 220.5 s (130.8–309.0 [92.0–485.0]) vs 252.5 (174.5–398.8 [65.0–527.0]) (P=0.48). Conclusion Unlike technical skills, warm-up with MP does not seem to improve CRM skills in simulated crisis scenarios.

In this article, we describe a critical event which occurred in a simulation centre, and we also review possible safety issues for participants and staff involved in medical simulation training. The authors report an incident with the potential of harming trainees and staff which occurred during a full-scale simulation. The episode raised the question of training safety in simulation centres. In this instance, the computer program controlling the mannequin enabled a continuous and non-regulated outflow of carbon dioxide which led to an intense reaction in the soda lime canister. The absorbent canister became too hot to be touched (a temperature probe, later placed in the centre of the front canister, measured 53°C). All activities involving the mannequin and anesthesia machine were stopped immediately. Simulation in healthcare is a valuable educational tool to train for a variety of clinical encounters in a safe environment without harming a patient. Due to technological progress and the use of authentic equipment recreating near real environments, simulation training has become exceedingly realistic. The Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) has published revised accreditation standards for simulation centres which incorporate training safety sub-criteria to address and manage. By highlighting recommendations of other high-risk industries on this issue, SSH proposes a possible approach to enhance safety in medical simulation.

While previous studies have investigated the country of origin of anaesthetic publications, they have generally used a medline computer search to identify original articles and have often excluded non-English language articles. We undertook a hand-search of journals in the Journal Citation Reports using the subject category of Anesthesiology. We quantified the number of original articles, editorials, review articles, case reports and correspondence attributed to each country. We also calculated the proportion of articles of each type from countries of each national income category. We analysed 9684 articles published in 2007 and 2008. The United States published more original articles than any other country. High-income countries published 89.2% of original articles, middle-income countries 10.5%, and low-income countries just 0.3%. There were more articles published by middle-income countries during the study period than a decade earlier, notably from Turkey, China and India. We discuss barriers to publications from low-income countries.

Non-adherence to airway guidelines in a ‘cannot intubate–cannot oxygenate’ (CICO) crisis situation is associated with adverse patient outcomes. This study investigated the effects of hands-on training in cricothyrotomy on adherence to the American Society of Anesthesiologists difficult airway algorithm (ASA-DAA) during a simulated CICO scenario. A total of 21 postgraduate second-year anesthesia residents completed a pre-test teaching session during which they reviewed the ASA-DAA, became familiarized with the Melker cricothyrotomy kit, and watched a video on cricothyrotomy. Participants were randomized to either the intervention ‘Trained’ group (n = 10) (taught and practiced cricothyrotomy) or the control ‘Non-Trained’ group (n = 11) (no extra training). After two to three weeks, performances of the groups were assessed in a simulated CICO scenario. The primary outcome measure was major deviation from the ASA-DAA. Secondary outcome measures were (1) performance of the four categories of non-technical behaviours using the validated Anaesthetists’ Non-Technical Skills scale (ANTS) and (2) time to perform specific tasks. Significantly more non-trained than trained participants (6/11 vs 0/10, P = 0.012) committed at least one major ASA-DAA deviation, including failure to insert an oral airway, failure to call for help, bypassing the laryngeal mask airway, and attempting fibreoptic intubation. ANTS scores for all four categories of behaviours, however, were similar between the groups. Trained participants called for help faster [26 (2) vs 63 (48) sec, P = 0.012] but delayed opening of the cricothyrotomy kit [130 (50) vs 74 (36) sec, P = 0.014]. Hands-on training in cricothyrotomy resulted in fewer major ASA-DAA deviations in a simulated CICO scenario. Training in cricothyrotomy may play an important role in complying with the ASA-DAA in a CICO situation but does not appear to affect non-technical behaviours such as decision-making.

Background Both technical skills (TS) and non-technical skills (NTS) are key to ensuring patient safety in acute care practice and effective crisis management. These skills are often taught and assessed separately. We hypothesized that TS and NTS are not independent of each other, and we aimed to evaluate the relationship between TS and NTS during a simulated intraoperative crisis scenario. Methods This study was a retrospective analysis of performances from a previously published work. After institutional ethics approval, 50 anaesthesiology residents managed a simulated crisis scenario of an intraoperative cardiac arrest secondary to a malignant arrhythmia. We used a modified Delphi approach to design a TS checklist, specific for the management of a malignant arrhythmia requiring defibrillation. All scenarios were recorded. Each performance was analysed by four independent experts. For each performance, two experts independently rated the technical performance using the TS checklist, and two other experts independently rated NTS using the Anaesthetists' Non-Technical Skills score. Results TS and NTS were significantly correlated to each other (r=0.45, P Conclusions During a simulated 5 min resuscitation requiring crisis resource management, our results indicate that TS and NTS are related to one another. This research provides the basis for future studies evaluating the nature of this relationship, the influence of NTS training on the performance of TS, and to determine whether NTS are generic and transferrable between crises that require different TS.

Background Simulation has been shown to be effective in teaching complex emergency procedural skills. However, the retention of these skills for a period of up to 1 yr has not been studied. We aimed to investigate the 6 month and 1 yr retention of the complex procedural skill of cricothyroidotomy in attending anaesthetists using a high-fidelity-simulated cannot intubate, cannot ventilate (CICV) scenario. Methods Thirty-eight attending anaesthetists participated individually in a high-fidelity-simulated CICV scenario (pretest) that required a cricothyroidotomy for definitive airway management. Immediately after a debriefing and structured teaching session on cricothyroidotomy insertion, subjects managed a second identical CICV scenario (post-test). Each anaesthetist was randomized to either a ‘6 month retention' or a ‘12 month retention' group. No further teaching occurred. At their respective retention times, each anaesthetist managed a third identical CICV scenario (retention post-test). Two blinded experts independently rated videos of all performances in a random order, using a specific checklist (CL) score, a global-rating scale (GRS) score, and procedural time (PT). Results Subjects from both groups improved on their cricothyroidotomy skill performances from pretest to immediate post-test and from pretest to retention post-test, irrespective of the retention interval; CL mean (sd) 8.00 (2.39) vs 8.88 (1.53), P =0.49; GRS 28.00 (7.80) vs 31.25 (5.31), P =0.25; PT 102.83 (63.81) s vs 106.88 (36.68) s, P =0.73. Conclusions After a single simulation training session, improvements in cricothyroidotomy skills are retained for at least 1 yr. These findings suggest that high-fidelity simulation training, along with practice and feedback, can be used to maintain complex procedural skills for at least 1 yr.

BACKGROUND: Age-related deterioration in both cognitive function and the capacity to control fine motor movements has been demonstrated in numerous studies. However, this decline has not been described with respect to complex clinical anesthesia skills. Cricothyroidotomy is an example of a complex, lifesaving procedure that requires competency in the domains of both cognitive processing and fine motor control. Proficiency in this skill is vital to minimize time to reestablish oxygenation during a "cannot intubate, cannot ventilate" scenario. In this prospective, controlled, single-blinded study, we tested the hypothesis that age affects the leaming and performance of emergency percutaneous cricothyroidotomy in a high-fidelity simulated cannot intubate/cannot ventilate scenario. METHODS: Thirty-six staff anesthesiologists (19 aged younger than 45 years and 17 older than 45 years) managed a high-fidelity cannot intubate/cannot ventilate scenario in a high-fidelity simulator before and after a 1-hour standardized training session. The group division cutoff age of 45 years was based on the median age of our sample subject population before enrollment. The scenarios required the insertion of an emergency percutaneous cricothyroidotomy. We compared cricothyroidotomy skills in the older group with those in the younger group using procedural time, 5-point task-specific checklist score, and global rating scale score. Correlation based on age, years from residency, weekly clinical hours worked, previous continuing medical education in airway management, and previous simulation experience was also performed. RESULTS: In both prestandardization and poststandardization, age and years from residency correlated with procedural time, checklist scores, and global rating scores. Baseline, prestandardization variables were all better for the younger group, with a mean age of 37 years, compared with the older group, with a mean age of 58 years. Procedural time was 100 (72-128) seconds versus 152 (120-261) seconds. Checklist scores were 7.0 (6.1-8.0) versus 6.0 (4.8-8.0). Global rating scale scores were 22.0 (17.8―29.8) versus 17.5 (10.4-20.6). After the 1-hour standardized training session, the younger group continued to perform better than the older group with procedural time of 75 (66-91) seconds versus 87 (78-123) seconds, checklist scores of 10.0 (9.1―10.0) versus 9.0 (8.0-10.0), and global rating scale scores of 35.0 (32.1―35.0) versus 32.0 (29.0-33.8). Regression analysis was performed on the poststandardization data. Both age and years from residency independently affected procedural time, checklist scores, and global rating scale scores (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Baseline proficiency with simulated emergency cricothyroidotomy is associated with age and years from residency. Despite standardized training, operator age and years from residency were associated with decreased proficiency. Further research should explore the potential of using age and years from residency as factors for implementing periodic continuing medical education.

Although guidelines for difficult airway management have been published, the extent to which consultant anesthesiologists follow these guidelines has not been determined. The purpose of this study is to observe how consultant anesthesiologists manage a "cannot intubate, cannot ventilate" (CICV) scenario in a high-fidelity simulator and to evaluate whether a simulation teaching session improves their adherence to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) difficult airway algorithm.With Ethics Board approval and informed consent, all staff anesthesiologists in a single tertiary care institution were invited to enrol in this study where they managed a simulated unanticipated CICV scenario in a high-fidelity simulator. The scenario involved a patient with a difficult airway whose trachea could not be intubated and where it was impossible to ventilate the patient's lungs. Airway management options, including laryngeal mask airway, a fibreoptic bronchoscope, and a Glidescope were available for use but scripted to fail. A percutaneous cricothyroidotomy was required to re-establish adequate ventilation. Following the scenario, there was a personalized one-hour video-assisted expert debriefing focusing on the ASA difficult airway guidelines and "hands-on" cricothyroidotomy teaching. The second scenario followed immediately with an identical CICV scenario. The content to either scenario was not revealed beforehand. Outcome measures included: 1) major deviations from the ASA difficult airway guidelines; 2) time to start cricothyroidotomy; and 3) time to achieve ventilation.Thirty-eight anesthesiologists agreed to participate. The number of major deviations from the ASA algorithm was similar in the first and second sessions. These deviations included: multiple laryngoscopies (0 vs 2 pre-post; P = 0.49), use of fibreoptic bronchoscope (8 vs 7 pre-post; P = 1.0), bypass of laryngeal mask airway attempt (7 vs 13 pre-post; P = 0.19), and failure to call for anesthetic help (12 vs 8 pre-post; P = 0.43). However, more participants failed to call for surgical help in the second session (7 vs 16; P = 0.04). The times to start cricothyroidotomy and the times to achieve ventilation were significantly shorter in the second session (205.5 +/- 61.3 sec vs 179.7 +/- 65.1 sec; P = 0.01 and 356.9 +/- 117.2 sec vs 269.4 +/- 77.43 sec; P = 0.0002, respectively).No substantial changes in airway management in a CICV scenario were observed after an intense one-hour personalized video-assisted airway-focused simulation debriefing session with an expert. It appears that multiple factors other than airway algorithms come into play in emergency airway decision-making processes, including one's personal clinical experience with the many available airway devices.

Corresponding author: Nicole Riem, M.D., Department of Anesthesia, St Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1W8, Canada. Tel: 1-416-864-5071, Fax: 1-416-864-6014, E-mail: nriem@aol.com This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. CC Implication statement