Development of a high fidelity, multidisciplinary, crisis simulation model for robotic surgical teams.

Immediate access to the patient in crisis situations, such as cardiac arrest during robotic surgery, can be challenging. We aimed to present a full immersion simulation module to train robotic surgical teams to manage a crisis scenario, enhance teamwork, establish clear lines of communication, improve coordination and speed of response. Start time of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first defibrillator shock and robotic de-docking time from the first 'cardiac arrest call' were recorded. Observational Teamwork Assessment for Surgery (OTAS) scores were used in control and test simulations to assess performance along with a participant survey. Repeat scenarios and assessment were conducted at a 6-month interval for the same team to validate knowledge retention and an additional scenario was run with a new anaesthetic team to validate modular design. OTAS scores improved across all specialty teams after training with emergency algorithm and at retention validity re-test (p = 0.0181; p = 0.0063). There was an overall reduction in time to CPR (101-48 s), first defibrillator shock (> 302 s to 86 s) and robot de dock time (86-25 s) Improvement remained constant at retention validity re-test. Replacing the anaesthetic team showed improvement in time to CPR, first shock and robotic de-dock times and did not affect OTAS scores (p = 0.1588). The module was rated highly for realism and crisis training by all teams. This high-fidelity simulation training module is realistic and feasible to deliver. Its modular design allows for efficient assessment and feedback, optimising staff training time and making it a valuable addition to robotic team training.

Failure modes and effects analysis to assess COVID-19 protocols in the management of obstetric emergencies.

The Royal Free Hospital is one of four High Consequence Infectious Disease centres in England and as of the end of May 2020, seven women were confirmed COVID-19 peri-delivery. We developed a standard operating procedure (SOP) for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 women undergoing operative delivery. This was revised in response to our ongoing clinical experience and changes in guidance from medical and public health organisations. Following 10 weeks of clinical practice, we formally tested the SOP using point-of-care simulation to enable optimisation for a potential second surge. Our high-fidelity simulation of a COVID-19-positive parturient requiring an emergency caesarean was facilitated by the simulation team in our obstetric unit. It was designed to test the performance and safety of our SOP as well as staff performance. We used the Failure Modes and Effect Analysis tool (a systematic, prospective method of process mapping) to identify how a complex task might fail and assess the relative impact of different failures. The decision-to-delivery was 17 minutes, which we considered to be successful. However, a number of operational deficiencies were identified. The main failures related to lack of situational awareness, ill-fitting personal protective equipment and difficulties communicating between theatre and the neonatal teams located outside, posing serious potential risks to safe neonatal care. Subsequently, we have modified our SOP to include a communication check, implemented communication training for the neonatal team and organised further simulation training for theatre staff unfamiliar with COVID-19 considerations.