ABSTRACT
STUDY AIM: In this study, evoked potentials (EPs) to a pneumatic, innocuous, and calibrated stimulation of the skin were recorded in 22 volunteers. METHODS: Air-puff stimuli were delivered through a home-made device (INSA de Lyon, Laboratoire Ampère, CHU de Saint-Étienne, France) synchronized with an EEG recording (Micromed(®)). RESULTS: A reproducible EP was recorded in 18 out of 22 subjects (82% of cases) with a mean latency of about 120-130ms, and maximal amplitude at Cz. This EP actually consisted of two components, an auditory and a somatosensory one. Indeed, it was significantly decreased in amplitude, but did not disappear, when the noise generated by the air-puff was masked. We also verified that a stimulation close to the skin but not perceived by the subject was not associated with any EP. Conduction velocity between hand and shoulder was calculated around 25m/s. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study demonstrates that pneumatic EPs can be recorded in normal volunteers.
Subject(s)
Evoked Potentials, Auditory/physiology , Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory/physiology , Physical Stimulation , Sensation/physiology , Adolescent , Adult , Air , Analysis of Variance , Data Interpretation, Statistical , Electroencephalography , Female , Humans , Male , Reproducibility of Results , Skin/innervation , Skin Physiological Phenomena , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In obstetrics, manipulations are mainly learned during real deliveries. To minimize the risks linked to such training, we propose a childbirth simulator as a teaching tool in hospitals. More specifically, we focus on training with forceps during obstetric manipulation. METHODS: The training method can be divided into two steps: the teaching of forceps placement, and the extraction manipulation. In this paper we focus on the extraction manipulation on the simulator and the analysis of the results, taking into account several parameters and using an evaluation function to obtain a global score. RESULTS: Experimental results reveal novice difficulty while proceeding to the fetus extraction. These results highlight the fact that novices need a personalized training which can be carried out on the BirthSIM simulator. CONCLUSION: Results lead to the conclusion that a simulator training offers benefit to novices by providing them with risk-free training to acquire initial experience before proceeding to conventional training in the delivery room.
