Virtual reality cricothyrotomy – a tool in medical emergency education throughout various disciplines
Abstract Objectives A cricothyrotomy represents an emergency procedure that may be considered a last option for securing the airway. While fortunately rare, it is important to note that such invasive procedures must be mastered if they are to be used. Therefore, regular training is essential to gain...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06816-5 |
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| author | Valentin Burkhardt Marianne Valette Iva Speck Omar Flayyih Christine Huber Angela Widder Robert Wunderlich Friederike Everad Christian Offergeld Tobias Albrecht |
| author_facet | Valentin Burkhardt Marianne Valette Iva Speck Omar Flayyih Christine Huber Angela Widder Robert Wunderlich Friederike Everad Christian Offergeld Tobias Albrecht |
| author_sort | Valentin Burkhardt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objectives A cricothyrotomy represents an emergency procedure that may be considered a last option for securing the airway. While fortunately rare, it is important to note that such invasive procedures must be mastered if they are to be used. Therefore, regular training is essential to gain routine. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether professional groups with different levels of experience with the procedure succeed in learning the procedure with a virtual reality trainer. Materials and methods In a multicenter approach, 146 employees with four different professional backgrounds—otorhinolaryngologists, anesthesiologists, emergency physicians and certified nurses—were included in the study. The participants were required to complete a virtual reality (VR) cricothyrotomy scenario in three consecutive runs, and the time required and errors in the procedure were recorded. The training experience was subsequently evaluated subjectively using a questionnaire. Results The study included 146 participants with an average age of 33 years and an average of 5 years of professional experience. The majority of participants (74%) reported an improvement in the speed of the procedure and in the procedural steps (87%). These subjective improvements were confirmed objectively by the time required for completion of the procedure and the points achieved. Gaming experience had a significant effect on both the score (p = 0.023) and procedure time (p = 0.039), whereas age and medical specialization did not. Real-life experience with cricothyrotomy had no significant effect on performance in VR. Conclusion Virtual reality provides an effective method for training healthcare professionals in cricothyrotomy, regardless of their specialty or prior experience. The participants showed significant improvements in both the speed and accuracy of the procedure after training, regardless of their prior experience or medical background. Further research is necessary to assess the benefits of VR simulation for training cricothyrotomy in real-world procedures. Trial registration DRKS00031736, registered on the 20th of April 2023. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4e2cdd6ee56943f886298091f8ffa2d4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-4e2cdd6ee56943f886298091f8ffa2d42025-08-20T02:41:32ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-02-0125111010.1186/s12909-025-06816-5Virtual reality cricothyrotomy – a tool in medical emergency education throughout various disciplinesValentin Burkhardt0Marianne Valette1Iva Speck2Omar Flayyih3Christine Huber4Angela Widder5Robert Wunderlich6Friederike Everad7Christian Offergeld8Tobias Albrecht9Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, University of FreiburgDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, University of FreiburgDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, University of FreiburgDean’s Office for Human Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, University of FreiburgDean’s Office for Human Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, University of FreiburgDean’s Office for Human Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, University of FreiburgDepartment of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital TübingenDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, University of FreiburgDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, University of FreiburgDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital TübingenAbstract Objectives A cricothyrotomy represents an emergency procedure that may be considered a last option for securing the airway. While fortunately rare, it is important to note that such invasive procedures must be mastered if they are to be used. Therefore, regular training is essential to gain routine. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether professional groups with different levels of experience with the procedure succeed in learning the procedure with a virtual reality trainer. Materials and methods In a multicenter approach, 146 employees with four different professional backgrounds—otorhinolaryngologists, anesthesiologists, emergency physicians and certified nurses—were included in the study. The participants were required to complete a virtual reality (VR) cricothyrotomy scenario in three consecutive runs, and the time required and errors in the procedure were recorded. The training experience was subsequently evaluated subjectively using a questionnaire. Results The study included 146 participants with an average age of 33 years and an average of 5 years of professional experience. The majority of participants (74%) reported an improvement in the speed of the procedure and in the procedural steps (87%). These subjective improvements were confirmed objectively by the time required for completion of the procedure and the points achieved. Gaming experience had a significant effect on both the score (p = 0.023) and procedure time (p = 0.039), whereas age and medical specialization did not. Real-life experience with cricothyrotomy had no significant effect on performance in VR. Conclusion Virtual reality provides an effective method for training healthcare professionals in cricothyrotomy, regardless of their specialty or prior experience. The participants showed significant improvements in both the speed and accuracy of the procedure after training, regardless of their prior experience or medical background. Further research is necessary to assess the benefits of VR simulation for training cricothyrotomy in real-world procedures. Trial registration DRKS00031736, registered on the 20th of April 2023.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06816-5CricothyrotomyGamificationEducationVirtual realityVREmergency medicine |
| spellingShingle | Valentin Burkhardt Marianne Valette Iva Speck Omar Flayyih Christine Huber Angela Widder Robert Wunderlich Friederike Everad Christian Offergeld Tobias Albrecht Virtual reality cricothyrotomy – a tool in medical emergency education throughout various disciplines BMC Medical Education Cricothyrotomy Gamification Education Virtual reality VR Emergency medicine |
| title | Virtual reality cricothyrotomy – a tool in medical emergency education throughout various disciplines |
| title_full | Virtual reality cricothyrotomy – a tool in medical emergency education throughout various disciplines |
| title_fullStr | Virtual reality cricothyrotomy – a tool in medical emergency education throughout various disciplines |
| title_full_unstemmed | Virtual reality cricothyrotomy – a tool in medical emergency education throughout various disciplines |
| title_short | Virtual reality cricothyrotomy – a tool in medical emergency education throughout various disciplines |
| title_sort | virtual reality cricothyrotomy a tool in medical emergency education throughout various disciplines |
| topic | Cricothyrotomy Gamification Education Virtual reality VR Emergency medicine |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06816-5 |
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