Development of a Lumbar Drain Simulator for Instructional Technique and Skill Assessment

Background Medical simulation for the teaching of procedural skills to health-care providers is an effective method of instruction to improve safety, quality, and procedural efficiency. There are several commercially available simulators for lumbar puncture training; however, there is currently no m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurocritical care 2020-06, Vol.32 (3), p.894-898
Main Authors: Clifton, William E., Damon, Aaron C., Freeman, William D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ballistics
Catheterization
Catheters
Cerebrospinal fluid
Clinical Competence
Critical Care Medicine
Design
Drainage
Endoscopy
Humans
Intensive
Internal Medicine
Lumbar Vertebrae
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Neurology
Patient safety
Silicones
Simulation
Simulation Training - methods
Spinal Puncture
Subarachnoid Space
Take Notice: Technology
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Summary:Background Medical simulation for the teaching of procedural skills to health-care providers is an effective method of instruction to improve safety, quality, and procedural efficiency. There are several commercially available simulators for lumbar puncture training; however, there is currently no model available for lumbar drain intrathecal catheter placement. Methods A modular lumbar drain simulator was assembled with the use of a spine model, ballstical gel, and Penrose drain tubing to recreate the procedural steps and tactile feedback of a live lumbar drain insertion. Results The assembled simulator demonstrated the ability to provide users with manual feeback of a “pop” sensation when intrathecal puncture was achieved with a 14 gauge Touhy needle, as well as spontaneous CSF flow. A silastic catheter was able to be inserted into the simulated subarachnoid space in the same manner as a live procedure. Conclusions A high-fidelity lumbar drain simulator can be constructed in a cost-effective manner. We have detailed the materials and assembly of our successful design in order to provide a novel educational tool for procedural instruction and practice.
ISSN:1541-6933
1556-0961
DOI:10.1007/s12028-019-00790-9