Power Outage: A Simulation Case for Anesthesiology Residents

Introduction Power outages in the OR are rare. However, anesthesia providers must be prepared to manage these situations until power is restored or their patient can be moved to a safe area. These situations occur so infrequently that many learners do not experience these events during their trainin...

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Main Authors: Luke Johnson, Ezoza Rajabaliev, Kristin Canipe, Michael R. Kazior
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Association of American Medical Colleges 2025-05-01
Series:MedEdPORTAL
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Online Access:http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11523
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author Luke Johnson
Ezoza Rajabaliev
Kristin Canipe
Michael R. Kazior
author_facet Luke Johnson
Ezoza Rajabaliev
Kristin Canipe
Michael R. Kazior
author_sort Luke Johnson
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Power outages in the OR are rare. However, anesthesia providers must be prepared to manage these situations until power is restored or their patient can be moved to a safe area. These situations occur so infrequently that many learners do not experience these events during their training. We designed a high-fidelity power outage simulation for anesthesiology residents to fill this training gap and enhance their preparedness and confidence. Methods In each simulation session consisting of up to four learners, one or two PGY 3/PGY 4 residents participated as anesthesiologists in a case involving an intraoperative power loss during a routine inguinal hernia repair of a patient under general anesthesia. After the simulation, residents received a debriefing focused on intraoperative power outage training. After concluding the debriefing, residents completed a 5-point Likert scale survey to assess their confidence in managing an intraoperative power loss. Results Over 2 years, 22 anesthesiology residents completed the simulation. Residents’ mean ratings of confidence in managing a patient in the OR during a power outage improved by 1.2 points (p =.001), confidence in monitoring vital signs improved by 1.4 (p = .001), and confidence in planning appropriate disposition improved by 0.9 (p =.001). All participants found the simulation highly valuable. Discussion The anesthesiology-specific simulation proved to be an effective educational tool. Feedback was positive as residents agreed that the simulation was valuable for developing clinical reasoning and decision-making skills, significantly boosting their confidence to respond effectively and maintain patient safety.
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spelling doaj-art-94110a5cd4654838a51befd01ecc09332025-08-20T02:11:21ZengAssociation of American Medical CollegesMedEdPORTAL2374-82652025-05-012110.15766/mep_2374-8265.11523Power Outage: A Simulation Case for Anesthesiology ResidentsLuke Johnson0Ezoza Rajabaliev1Kristin Canipe2Michael R. Kazior3Third-Year Medical Student, Virginia Commonwealth University School of MedicineThird-Year Resident, Department of Anesthesiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of MedicineSimulation Educator, Center for Human Simulation and Patient Safety, Virginia Commonwealth University School of MedicineAssistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Virginia Commonwealth University Health; Staff Physician, Department of Anesthesiology, Richmond VA Medical CenterIntroduction Power outages in the OR are rare. However, anesthesia providers must be prepared to manage these situations until power is restored or their patient can be moved to a safe area. These situations occur so infrequently that many learners do not experience these events during their training. We designed a high-fidelity power outage simulation for anesthesiology residents to fill this training gap and enhance their preparedness and confidence. Methods In each simulation session consisting of up to four learners, one or two PGY 3/PGY 4 residents participated as anesthesiologists in a case involving an intraoperative power loss during a routine inguinal hernia repair of a patient under general anesthesia. After the simulation, residents received a debriefing focused on intraoperative power outage training. After concluding the debriefing, residents completed a 5-point Likert scale survey to assess their confidence in managing an intraoperative power loss. Results Over 2 years, 22 anesthesiology residents completed the simulation. Residents’ mean ratings of confidence in managing a patient in the OR during a power outage improved by 1.2 points (p =.001), confidence in monitoring vital signs improved by 1.4 (p = .001), and confidence in planning appropriate disposition improved by 0.9 (p =.001). All participants found the simulation highly valuable. Discussion The anesthesiology-specific simulation proved to be an effective educational tool. Feedback was positive as residents agreed that the simulation was valuable for developing clinical reasoning and decision-making skills, significantly boosting their confidence to respond effectively and maintain patient safety.http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11523SimulationPower OutageAnesthesiologyCritical Care Medicine
spellingShingle Luke Johnson
Ezoza Rajabaliev
Kristin Canipe
Michael R. Kazior
Power Outage: A Simulation Case for Anesthesiology Residents
MedEdPORTAL
Simulation
Power Outage
Anesthesiology
Critical Care Medicine
title Power Outage: A Simulation Case for Anesthesiology Residents
title_full Power Outage: A Simulation Case for Anesthesiology Residents
title_fullStr Power Outage: A Simulation Case for Anesthesiology Residents
title_full_unstemmed Power Outage: A Simulation Case for Anesthesiology Residents
title_short Power Outage: A Simulation Case for Anesthesiology Residents
title_sort power outage a simulation case for anesthesiology residents
topic Simulation
Power Outage
Anesthesiology
Critical Care Medicine
url http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11523
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