Advancing Mechanical Ventilation Management through Simulation

A research team consisting of personnel from United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Aeromedical Research Department, En Route Care Division, Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills, University of Cincinnati, and IngMar Medical collaborated to develop a mechanical ventilation-training simulator. The training simulator was designed to mimic respiratory distress during mechanical ventilation. The trainer included common complications often seen with mechanically ventilated patients. A simulated torso was developed and integrated with an appropriately equipped Special Medical Emergency Evacuation Device affixed with medical equipment utilized during Critical Care Air Transport Team missions. The torso includes a lung model, upper airway, and head with reproducible computerized algorithms with the ability to simulate respiratory distress. The simulator is responsive to providers interventions in treating conditions encountered during mechanical ventilation. While the focus for the simulator training was directed at the Critical Care Air Transport Team training platform, an additional population for inclusion is medical providers responsible for ventilator management across the spectrum of care.