Introduction of an ENT emergency—safe boot camp into postgraduate surgical training in the Republic of Ireland

Background Otolaryngology (ENT) is a craft surgical specialty, which presents significant challenges for the novice surgical trainee (NST), when managing patients with potentially life-threatening conditions. We assess current evidence behind intensive, simulation-rich training programmes or "boot camps". We outline an ENT emergency-safe boot camp for NSTs and the impact this can have on trainees' competence when dealing with ENT emergencies. Methods We designed a standardized "ENT emergency-safe boot camp", aimed at NSTs with a view to up-skilling them in the management of 3 critical clinical scenarios namely post-thyroidectomy haematoma, post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage and epistaxis. All core surgical trainees (CSTs) (n = 54) on the National Surgical Training programme at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) were enrolled on the boot camp. A pre- and post-boot camp anonymised self-assessment was completed by all participants. Results Trainees' self-assessment demonstrated an increase in median competence scores from 3/5 to 4/5 for management of post-thyroidectomy haematoma and epistaxis. There was a greater increase in self-assessed competence scores from 2/5 to 4/5 for the management of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage. Ninety-two percent of respondents said the course added to their previous knowledge, 70% of respondents said it improved their technical skills and 85% of participants said the course gave them more confidence with handling ENT related on-call problems. Conclusion Study participants expressed an increase in confidence when dealing with specific ENT emergencies, following boot camp training. This correlates with published data. Patient safety should be enhanced, as a result of participation in this dedicated ENT emergency-safe boot camp.