Audience
Our reusable low-cost peritonsillar abscess simulator (PTA) simulator is designed to train emergency medicine (EM) residents, fellows, and medical students. Trainees who are interested in otolaryngology (OTL) or this specific disease may also benefit from this simulator.
Introduction
Peritonsillar abscess is one of the most common deep infections
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of the head and neck, accounting for 7589 consultations and 11069 hospital bed days in the UK between 2009–2010.
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Emergency medicine physicians commonly treat this pathology with surgical and medical modalities. Not only is this a common diagnosis, but there is a significant cost associated with the evaluation and management of primary PTA.
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Demands for high-volume patient care and good patient outcomes are increasing in a medical climate of limited financial resources and resident work hours. Given these complexities, medical education is viewing simulation training, with proven success in various surgical specialties, as a valuable addition to resident education and patient safety.
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The PTA is the collection of pus in the space between the palatine tonsil and its capsule. Successfully locating the abscess is crucial because it prevents the unwanted damage of nearby vascular structures, patient discomfort, and failure to treat the infection. Management of peritonsillar abscess is primarily surgical and includes incision and drainage (I & D), needle aspiration, or Quinsy tonsillectomy.
The simulator provides a realistic characteristic of typical PTA presentations, such as uvula deviation, swelling, trismus, and purulence during aspiration. While learning to drain a PTA, trainees must locate the infection with a needle without injury to the surrounding structures of the oral cavity and deep structures of the neck. The discomfort caused during this procedure can be unsettling for both physician and patient. Simulation use and testing enable the trainee to develop familiarity with handling instruments, increase comfort with the sequence of a procedure, and improve confidence in the ability to perform a procedure safely.
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Simulators provide improved patient outcomes and increased EM residents' comfort level.
Educational Objectives
By the end of this training session, learners will be able to: 1) locate the abscess, 2) perform needle aspiration, and 3) develop dexterity in maneuvering instruments in the small three-dimensional confines of the oral cavity without causing injury to local structures.
Educational Methods
Our PTA simulator was fabricated with a low-cost, non-degradable material and is the first known PTA simulator that used a validated survey for fidelity assessment. The simu...
