R. A. Lawless1, J. D. Love1 1University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston,Acute Care Surgery,Houston, TX, USA
Introduction:
Noncompressible truncal hemorrhage (NCTH) remains a major cause of death from traumatic injuries both in military and civilian populations. Recent interest in resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) has shown promise as an alternative to resuscitative thoracotomy and adjunct to preperitoneal packing for NCTH. General surgery residents and fellows are exposed to this technique in the elective and emergent setting during abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. However, this skill is not always maintained in surgeons not planning on completing a vascular surgery fellowship. The recent interest in REBOA has brought a need for training in this technique for both new trainees and current trauma attendings.
Methods:
Between the University of Texas Health Science Center and Texas Medical Center the Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma (ASSET) is held four times per year. The curriculum is followed as determined by the ACS Committee on Trauma. Following course completion, a didactic session, anatomic demonstration, and simulation session for the REBOA was introduced.
Results:
Participants included PGY-3, PGY-4, PGY-5, PGY-6, general surgery faculty, and trauma/critical care faculty. From June 2012 to March 2014, 64 participants completed the simulation course. Following the course a number of participants have utilized the technique learned from the course in the care of their trauma patients.
Conclusion:
The REBOA technology can be taught to trainees and surgeons in practice and immediately applied in the trauma setting. Course participants are confident in this technique of minimally invasive control of NCTH. Future and ongoing plans for the course include a pre-test, post-test, self-assessment, and course survey.