Short-term and long-term impact of the central line workshop on resident clinical performance during simulated central line placement.

INTRODUCTION: The Central Line Workshop (CLW) was introduced at our institution to better train residents in safe placement of the central venous catheter (CVC). This study sought to determine if immediate performance improvements from the CLW are sustained 3 months after the training for residents with various levels of experience. METHODS: Twenty-six emergency medicine residents completed the CLW, which includes online modules and experiential sessions in anatomy, ultrasound, sterile technique, and procedural task training. Demonstration of the synthesis of these skills including placement of both internal jugular and subclavian CVCs was assessed using a task trainer. Each resident was also tested approximately 3 months before and 3 months after the CLW. Residents were assessed using a validated CVC proficiency scale. RESULTS: Residents' CVC proficiency scores (percentage of items performed correctly during the assessment station) improved after CLW (0.6 vs. 0.93, P < 0.05). At 3 months after CLW testing, there was apparent skill decay from the CLW but overall improvement compared with baseline testing (0.6 vs. 0.8, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in procedure time after CLW training. The postgraduate year 1 group showed the greatest improvement of CVC skill after CLW training. CONCLUSIONS: Resident CVC placement performance improved immediately after the CLW. Although performance 3 months after the CLW revealed evidence of skill decay, it was improved when compared with initial baseline assessment. Novice learners had the greatest benefit from the CLW.

Pulmonary langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (PLCH) is a relatively uncommon lung disease that generally, but not invariably, occurs in cigarette smokers. The pathologic hallmark of PLCH is the accumulation of Langerhans and other inflammatory cells in small airways, resulting in the formation of nodular inflammatory lesions. While the overwhelming majority of patients are smokers, mechanisms by which smoking induces this disease are not known, but likely involve a combination of events resulting in enhanced recruitment and activation of Langerhans cells in small airways. Bronchiolar inflammation may be accompanied by variable lung interstitial and vascular involvement. While cellular inflammation is prominent in early disease, more advanced stages are characterized by cystic lung destruction, cicatricial scarring of airways, and pulmonary vascular remodeling. Pulmonary function is frequently abnormal at presentation. Imaging of the chest with high resolution chest CT scanning may show characteristic nodular and cystic abnormalities. Lung biopsy is necessary for a definitive diagnosis, although may not be required in instances were imaging findings are highly characteristic. There is no general consensus regarding the role of immunosuppressive therapy in smokers with PLCH. All smokers must be counseled on the importance of smoking cessation, which may result in regression of disease and obviate the need for systemic immunosuppressive therapy. The prognosis for most patients is relatively good, particularly if longitudinal lung function testing shows stability. Complications like pneumothoraces and secondary pulmonary hypertension may shorten life expectancy. Patients with progressive disease may require lung transplantation.

Simulation-based objective assessment discerns clinical proficiency in central line placement: a construct validation.

BACKGROUND: Central venous catheterization (CVC) is associated with patient risks known to be inversely related to clinician experience. We developed and evaluated a performance assessment tool for use in a simulation-based central line workshop. We hypothesized that instrument scores would discriminate between less experienced and more experienced clinicians. METHODS: Participants included trainees enrolled in an institutionally mandated CVC workshop and a convenience sample of faculty attending physicians. The workshop integrated several experiential learning techniques, including practice on cadavers and part-task trainers. A group of clinical and education experts developed a 15-point CVC Proficiency Scale using national and institutional guidelines. After the workshop, participants completed a certification exercise in which they independently performed a CVC in a part-task trainer. Two authors reviewed videotapes of the certification exercise to rate performance using the CVC Proficiency Scale. Participants were grouped by self-reported CVC experience. RESULTS: One hundred and five participants (92 trainees and 13 attending physicians) participated. Interrater reliability on a subset of 40 videos was 0.71, and Cronbach a was 0.81. The CVC Proficiency Scale Composite score varied significantly by experience: mean of 85%, median of 87% (range 47%-100%) for low experience (0-1 CVCs in the last 2 years, n = 27); mean of 88%, median of 87% (range 60%-100%) for moderate experience (2-49 CVCs, n = 62); and mean of 94%, median of 93% (range 73%-100%) for high experience (> 49 CVCs, n = 16) (P = .02, comparing low and high experience). CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from multiple sources, including appropriate content, high interrater and internal consistency reliability, and confirmation of hypothesized relations to other variables, supports the validity of using scores from this 15-item scale for assessing trainee proficiency following a central line workshop.