Rigid bronchoscopy: a consultant survey.

INTRODUCTION: Inhalation of foreign bodies represents a potentially fatal emergency in both adults and children. Chest x-ray, in isolation, is neither sensitive nor specific. Rigid bronchoscopy represents the gold standard to diagnose and retrieve paediatric foreign bodies. Cases are encountered infrequently, creating anxieties about their management. Little is known about the confidence in, and maintenance of, rigid bronchoscopy skills by ear, nose and throat teams. METHODS: A 15-question survey was completed by 50 practising otolaryngology consultants in England. RESULTS: Results show that almost 40% of otolaryngology consultants covering rigid bronchoscopy have not performed bronchoscopy in more than 5 years. Consultants raised concerns about the anaesthetic support and the speed of equipment assembly. Questions on clinical practice showed disparities in practice in the same scenario. CONCLUSIONS: The authors advocate addressing many of the issues raised by the study with a greater availability of simulation courses and regular scheduled intradepartmental teaching days for all professionals involved. National guidelines on criteria for transfer to tertiary centres would improve the consistency of practice.

Introducing a realistic and reusable quinsy simulator.

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of inexperienced doctors are rotating through otolaryngology departments and providing care to ENT patients. Numerous acute ENT conditions require basic surgical or technical intervention; hence, effective and efficient simulation induction training has become paramount in providing a safe yet valuable educational environment for the junior clinician. Whilst simulation has developed over the years for numerous ENT skills, to date there has not been a realistic and easily reproducible model for teaching the skills to manage one of the most common ENT emergencies, a peritonsillar abscess or 'quinsy'. METHOD: We have adapted the Laryngotech trainer, a well-established ENT simulation tool, to present a readily accessible, reusable and realistic simulation model. CONCLUSION: The model provides safe training for the drainage of quinsy.