Assessment of the Impact of Technical Incidents in Critical Situations Using High-Fidelity Simulation Techniques in Pediatric Intensive Care

Introduction In certain fields such as anesthesia and critical care, technical incidents are rare events; however, when they occur, they disrupt workflow, optimal patient care, and survival, with human factors often implicated. In pediatric resuscitation, the impact of these incidents on patient care has not yet been thoroughly explored through simulation. Consequently, we investigated how healthcare teams integrate technical incidents in critical situations and whether this interferes with the adequate management of patients. Materials & methods In a single-blind randomized study utilizing high-fidelity simulation, we incorporated a pediatric scenario involving hypoxemia in an intubated and ventilated infant where the endotracheal tube (ETT) was obstructed. A technical incident (disconnected oxygen supply) was either present (TI+) or absent (TI-) in the scenario. We compared reaction times for "removal of the obstructed ETT" between the two groups (TI+ and TI-). Additionally, we recorded and analyzed reaction times for "bag ventilation" and "repair of the technical incident" in the TI+ group. To assess the scenario's credibility, we conducted an analysis comparing the medians of evaluation forms that were anonymously completed by participants at the end of the sessions. Results In total, 10 simulation sessions were conducted, five TI+ and five TI-. The time required for removal of the obstructed ETT in the presence of a technical incident was significantly prolonged compared to controls (Mann-Whitney test, p =0.03). Furthermore, bag ventilation precedes tube removal in the TI+ group, a contrast to the TI- group, which quickly removes the obstructed ETT before stabilizing the patient with bagmask ventilation. Conclusion Technical incidents in simulated pediatric scenario adversely affect urgent care in ventilated children. Developing and validating a procedural response to these situations through further simulation is imperative.