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Otolaryngology-Based Airway Management Curriculum in Junior Anesthesia Residents
Suhas Suddala, Gabrielle Martin, Julia Waldman, Arvind Badhey
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA

Background: Airway management, particularly difficult airway management, is a vital part of Anesthesiology residents’ education. Improved success with intubation and limited complications has been demonstrated among residents with extensive training in airway management. We implemented a 2-week otolaryngology rotation to increase anesthesia residents’ knowledge and skills in airway management.
Methods: 16 Anesthesiology residents were enrolled in a two-year cohort study, . These participants were given a survey to assess knowledge and comfort with airway anatomy and fiberoptic scope skills before and after the rotation. Comfort was rated on a 1-5 Likert scale. Airway skills were also objectively assessed by a single Otolaryngologist who acted as the rotation leader.
Results: After completing the rotation, residents were significantly more comfortable with airway anatomy (+ 1.3 points on the Likert scale), flexible scoping (+ 2.3), and performing procedures on awake patients (+ 2.5) (p < 0.01). Additionally, residents significantly improved in all skills when objectively assessed by an Otolaryngologist (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: Residency sub-specialty education is important to increase success rate and decrease complications of critical procedures such as advanced airway management. In this on-going cohort study, we demonstrate that this type of training is effective at both increasing comfort and objective skills. Interdisciplinary work within an airway expert’s early training fosters collaboration and can fine tune skillsets needed for life-saving situations throughout their career.
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