T he random nature of adverse patient events and the vagaries of clinical exposure make assessment of pediatric anesthesia trainees complicated. Nonetheless, such assessment is critical to improving patient safety. In earlier studies, a multiple-scenario assessment offered reliable and valid measurements of the abilities of anesthesia residents. A set of relevant simulated pediatric perioperative scenarios was developed, and its effectiveness in assessing anesthesia residents and pediatric anesthesia fellows was ascertained. Ten simulation scenarios were created to reflect situations found in perioperative anesthesia care. Thirty-five anesthesiology residents and fellows agreed to participate and were debriefed after each scenario. Each scenario was scored by 2 anesthesiologists using a key action checklist. The psychometric properties, such as reliability and validity, were studied. Those with more experience in administering pediatric anesthetics usually outperformed those with less experience. Variations in scores that were attributable to raters were low, which resulted in greater interrater reliability. This method of assessment can potentially contribute to pediatric anesthesia performance, but more measures of validityVincluding correlations with more direct measures of clinical performanceVare needed to confirm the usefulness of this approach.

After a single simulation training session, improvements in cricothyroidotomy skills are retained for at least 1 yr. These findings suggest that high-fidelity simulation training, along with practice and feedback, can be used to maintain complex procedural skills for at least 1 yr.

RésuméObjectif Bien que les lignes directrices relatives a`la prise en charge de l'intubation difficile aient e´te´publie´es,