Evaluation of the airway of the SimMan full-scale patient simulator.
BACKGROUND
SimMan is a full-scale patient simulator, capable of simulating normal and pathological airways. The performance of SimMan has never been critically evaluated.


METHODS
Sixty subjects (anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, and anesthesia residents) performed mask ventilation, laryngeal mask insertion and endotracheal intubation on SimMan. The simulator's airway was evaluated using visual analog scales (VAS) and by measuring the subject's performances.


RESULTS
The SimMan full-scale patient simulator's airway is generally acceptably realistic but it significantly differs from the human airway in important aspects. Mask seal was more difficult than in humans whereas Laryngeal mask (LMA) insertion and function was acceptable. The distance from the teeth to the vallecula was too short. Cervical spine mobility was significantly reduced in the 'reduced neck movement' mode but the intubation was only slightly more difficult than in the 'normal' mode.


CONCLUSIONS
The SimMan full-scale patient simulator's airway is generally acceptably realistic but it significantly differs from the human airway in important aspects. The user must be aware of these aspects in order to obtain maximum benefit from training and evaluation scenarios and when using the simulator for testing new equipment and techniques.
Hesselfeldt
R
R
Department of Anesthesia and Operating Theatre Services, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigs hospitalet Copenhagen, Denmark.
Kristensen
M S
MS
Rasmussen
L S
LS
D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D007830:Larynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008348:Manikins; D009333:Neck / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology