Effectiveness of Flexible Bronchoscopy Simulation-Based Training: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The implementation of simulation-based training (SBT) to teach flexible bronchoscopy (FB) skills to novice trainees has increased during the last decade. However, it is unknown whether SBT is effective to teach FB to novices and which instructional features contribute to training effectiveness. RESEARCH QUESTION: How effective is FB SBT and which instructional features contribute to training effectiveness? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We searched Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles on FB SBT for novice trainees, considering all available literature until November 10, 2022. We assessed methodological quality of included studies using a modified version of the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument, evaluated risk of bias with relevant tools depending on study design, assessed instructional features, and intended to correlate instructional features to outcome measures. RESULTS: We identified 14 studies from an initial pool of 544 studies. Eleven studies reported positive effects of FB SBT on most of their outcome measures. However, risk of bias was moderate or high in eight studies, and only six studies were of high quality (modified Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument score ≥ 12.5). Moreover, instructional features and outcome measures varied highly across studies, and only four studies evaluated intervention effects on behavioral outcome measures in the patient setting. All of the simulation training programs in studies with the highest methodological quality and most relevant outcome measures included curriculum integration and a range in task difficulty. INTERPRETATION: Although most studies reported positive effects of simulation training programs on their outcome measures, definitive conclusions regarding training effectiveness on actual bronchoscopy performance in patients could not be made because of heterogeneity of training features and the sparse evidence of training effectiveness on validated behavioral outcome measures in a patient setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO; No.: CRD42021262853; URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/.

Mandibular advancement device: Effectiveness and dental side effects. A real-life study.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and adverse events of mandibular advancement device (MAD) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to identify predictive clinical parameters for therapy success.Methods: A retrospective analysis of 318 patients indicated for MAD therapy, observed in a large teaching hospital in the Netherlands.Results: Ninety-seven patients (65.5%) achieved therapy success. A significant decrease in AHI (apnea-hypopnea index) and OSA-related symptoms was observed. None of the analyzed OSA-characteristics proved to be a significant predictive parameter for therapy success. Side-effects were reported in 54.4% of the patients, with temporomandibular dysfunction (27.0%) being the most frequent. Seventy-four patients (23.3%) discontinued treatment due to side-effects or therapy failure.Conclusion: MAD proved to be effective in the treatment of OSA and can be a viable alternative to CPAP in patients with severe OSA. Side-effects were relatively common and led to termination of therapy in 1 out of 10 cases.