Cadaveric Anatomical Simulation in Risk Management and Prevention of Adverse Events in Procedures for Airway and Ventilation

Medical knowledge and skills must start from a basic anatomical knowledge. This work is developed after identifying the occurrence of adverse events in clinical and surgical procedures due to ignorance of anatomical bases. The purpose is to evaluate the implementation of simulating the necessary skills to carry out these procedures in formalin-fixed cadaveric dissections during annual rotation course with undergraduate students. We performed a statistical, retrospective, and observational analysis of the technique and adverse events that occurred in the procedures of placement of oropharyngeal cannula, placement of mask with reservoir, orotracheal intubation, puncture of the cricothyroid membrane, chest puncture, placement of a chest tube, in formalin-fixed cadaveric dissections with the participation of 73 students during the annual rotation course at the School of Medicine in the Universidad de Buenos Aires from March to December 2022. Out of the students who performed the procedures, 95.89% performed a satisfactory placement of an oropharyngeal cannula in the first attempt. 98.63% practiced the placement of a mask with reservoir and oropharyngeal device simultaneously correctly in the first attempt. 47.95% of presented no adverse events in puncture of the cricothyroid membrane on the first attempt. Regarding orotracheal intubation, 10.96% presented no adverse events on the first attempt. 89.04% who had adverse events made a second attempt. 86.3% performed a successful chest puncture on the first attempt. Finally, chest tube placement was successfully performed in 28.77% on the first attempt. Anatomical knowledge is essential for its application in clinical and surgical skills ensuring the prevention, reduction of risk and development of a culture of safety and quality of patient care.