Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice Versus Traditional Simulation for Training Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Specialists in Circuit Air Emergency Management A Randomized Trial

Introduction Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a highly complex therapy used to support critically ill patients. Simulation-based training of ECMO specialists in the management of ECMO emergencies has been described in the literature, but optimal methods are not currently established. The objective of this study was to compare rapid cycle deliberate practice (RCDP) simulation versus traditional simulation (TS) with reflective debriefing for training ECMO specialists in the management of arterial air emergencies. Methods A prospective, randomized, pre-post interventional design was used to compare the impact of RCDP training with that of TS training on ECMO specialist performance during a simulated ECMO circuit emergency. Participants were divided into 2 training groups-RCDP and TS. Each participant completed a simulated arterial air emergency scenario before training, immediately after training, and again 3 months later. The primary outcome was the time required by individual participants to complete critical clinical actions. Results Twenty-four ECMO specialists completed the study. Immediately after the training, the RCDP group had faster times to dissociate the patient from the ECMO circuit (11-seconds RCDP vs. 16-seconds TS, P = 0.03) and times to re-establish ECMO support (59-seconds RCDP vs. 82.5-seconds TS, P = 0.01). Follow-up testing at 3 months showed persistence in faster times to re-establish ECMO support in the RCDP group (114-seconds RCDP vs. 199-seconds TS, P = 0.01). Conclusions Rapid cycle deliberate practice simulation provides a superior curriculum and method of training ECMO specialists in the management of arterial air emergencies in comparison with traditional simulation.