Diseases that cause vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and gastroenteritis are major problems for populations worldwide. Patients, particularly infants, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, may present at any point in a wide spectrum of disease states, underscoring the need for the clinician to treat these ailments aggressively. Several promising new treatment modalities, from oral rehydration solutions to antiemetic therapies, have been introduced over the past decade. Future directions include the use of probiotic agents and better tolerated rehydration solutions. Gastrointestinal disease will continue to be a focus worldwide in the search for better ways to cure illnesses associated with vomiting and diarrhea.
Introduction
Priapism is a rare yet time sensitive emergency with potentially significant morbidity. A novel task trainer was developed for corpus cavernosa aspiration and phenylephrine injection. The primary aim of this study was to assess model realism and usefulness for emergency medicine resident procedural education. Secondarily, an assessment of comfort level with the procedure before and after intervention was performed.
Methods
A priapism model containing corpus cavernosa and spongiosum analogs was constructed. The models and evaluation forms were pilot tested by faculty and then tested for realism and usefulness in a sample of 49 residents after a brief training session. Secondary end points included resident comfort with cavernosa aspiration before and after the session of the model on a visual analog scale.
Results
Eight faculty pilot tested the procedure model and evaluated it based on a 5-point scale. They unanimously felt that the model was realistic [mean = 4.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.8–5.0] and useful for resident education (mean = 4.8, 95% CI = 4.4–5.0). The model was then evaluated for realism and usefulness in 49 residents. The model was felt to be realistic (mean = 4.3, 95% CI = 4.0–4.5) and useful for resident education (mean = 4.6, 95% CI = 4.4–4.8). Residents also noted an improvement in comfort performing the procedure before and after simulation session with the mean visual analog scale rating increasing from 34.3 to 83.8 (P < 0.001).
Conclusions
An easily constructed priapism task trainer was felt to be realistic and useful for resident education. Secondarily, use of the model in a simulation session can improve resident comfort in an important and infrequent procedure.
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