POCUS: Upper Airway Evaluation Curriculum Development

Aaron Poindexter, RN, DNP, CRNA

DNP Nurse Anesthesia 

POCUS: Upper Airway Evaluation Curriculum Development

Project Category: Evidence Implementation

Project Team: Aaron Poindexter, DNP, CRNA Samira Hashi, DNP, CRNA Franklin McShane, DNP, CRNA (Advisor)

Abstract

Background: Airway management is a fundamental skill in anesthesia practice. Anesthesia providers may encounter myriad challenges during the perioperative period including unanticipated difficult mask ventilation or laryngoscopy. The ability to predict and identify difficult or abnormal airway anatomy is essential. Point-of-care-ultrasound (POCUS) is a noninvasive tool used for airway evaluation, which has been shown to be reliable in detecting atypical airway anatomy or predicting difficult laryngoscopy compared to standard techniques that are widely utilized today. The purpose of this project was to create and implement an airway POCUS curriculum at Rosalind Franklin University (RFU) for nurse anesthesia (NA) residents.

Methods:  A comprehensive airway POCUS curriculum was developed using current evidence-based guidelines. Second year NA residents (n=38) were instructed using in-person lecture, a fluency skills checklist, PowerPoint presentation, and guided hands-on scanning. A post-implementation survey was distributed using Qualtrics to assess effectiveness of the content.

Results: Training included the participation of 38 second year NA residents. Survey results showed that 89.47% of students strongly agreed the POCUS airway content met their learning needs. Additionally, 92.11% of NA residents strongly agreed the content increased their interest in POCUS, with 94.59% of students strongly agreeing the content to be applicable to their future practice as a nurse anesthetist.

Conclusions: POCUS has been shown to be a reliable tool with its use growing in the anesthesia profession, including upper airway assessment. Incorporating an airway POCUS curriculum, that utilizes lecture and hands-on scanning, should be included into RFU’s existing NA curriculum to meet the requirements of the accrediting agency, and improve proficiency of NA residents.

Full Manuscript Slide Presentation Video