Enhancing pediatric safety: assessing and improving resident competency in life-threatening events with a computer-based interactive resuscitation tool.

BACKGROUND: Though rare, allergic reactions occur as a result of administration of low osmolality nonionic iodinated contrast material to pediatric patients. Currently available resuscitation aids are inadequate in guiding radiologists' initial management of such reactions. OBJECTIVE: To compare radiology resident competency with and without a computer-based interactive resuscitation tool in the management of life-threatening events in pediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was approved by the IRB. Radiology residents (n = 19; 14 male, 5 female; 19 certified in basic life support/advanced cardiac life support; 1 certified in pediatric advanced life support) were videotaped during two simulated 5-min anaphylaxis scenarios involving 18-month-old and 8-year-old mannequins (order randomized). No advance warning was given. In half of the scenarios, a computer-based interactive resuscitation tool with a response-driven decision tree was available to residents (order randomized). Competency measures included: calling a code, administering oxygen and epinephrine, and correctly dosing epinephrine. RESULTS: Residents performed significantly more essential interventions with the computer-based resuscitation tool than without (72/76 vs. 49/76, P < 0.001). Significantly more residents appropriately dosed epinephrine with the tool than without (17/19 vs. 1/19; P < 0.001). More residents called a code with the tool than without (17/19 vs. 14/19; P = 0.08). A learning effect was present: average times to call a code, request oxygen, and administer epinephrine were shorter in the second scenario (129 vs. 93 s, P = 0.24; 52 vs. 30 s, P < 0.001; 152 vs. 82 s, P = 0.025, respectively). All the trainees found the resuscitation tool helpful and potentially useful in a true pediatric emergency. CONCLUSION: A computer-based interactive resuscitation tool significantly improved resident performance in managing pediatric emergencies in the radiology department.

The radiology perspective: needs and tools for management of life-threatening events.

Studies have shown that life-threatening contrast agent reactions in adults are very rare, and even less common in children. The rarity of severe allergic reactions to contrast material challenges educators to achieve radiology resident competency in this setting. However, using a simulated anaphylactic contrast reaction paradigm, we have drawn two conclusions: (1) Residents are insufficiently prepared to recognize and manage these life-threatening events and (2) with an interactive, computer-based tool we can significantly improve resident performance in these situations. Simulation is a growing tool in medicine and allows standardized resident exposure to uncommon events in a setting that is conducive to resident education without fear of repercussions (see Ruddy and Patterson in this issue of Pediatric Radiology). More important, simulation provides a cornerstone in patient safety resident education without putting patients at risk.

Evaluation of a coronary-cameral fistula: benefits of coronary dual-source MDCT angiography in children.

We describe the use of a dual-source 64-channel multidetector array CT (MDCT) scanner in the evaluation of a coronary-cameral fistula in a 10-month-old boy. Echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and MRI are modalities often used to evaluate congenital and other pediatric heart diseases. Radiation dose concerns and the absence of established protocols are factors that have potentially limited the use of CT for work-up in these young children. We present a case in which recent advances in technology allowed effective low-dose diagnostic quality coronary MDCT angiography in an infant.