Dept Of Anesthesiology & Critical Care, University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine

OR Fire Simulation

Fire in the OR!  How would you have responded?  What was done well?  What could have been improved upon?

This is a video of a simulation done a number of years ago at the Winter Institute For Simulation Education and Research (WISER) at the University of Pittsburg.  It is used with permission of Laederal Corporation and the WISER simulation center.

Video courtesy of WA Kofke M.D.

The Greengrocer epidural simulator

In a 1989 letter to the editor of Anesthesiology, Barbara Leighton described her Greengrocer's Model of the Epidural Space.  We have found this "simulator" to be a fun and useful introduction to epidural anesthesia.  Many of our residents prefer this model to more expensive simulators.  The Department's version is as shown:

                    

According to Dr. Leighton the banana represents in turn the skin, subcutaneous tissue and ligamentum flavum.  She noted that the average banana can be used about 30 attempts.  A balloon (not visible in this photo) represents the Dura.  As Dr. Leighton noted in her letter, the thin skin of an air or water filled balloon identifies undue pressure on the "dura" with a loud dry pop (double click on each image to enlarge it)

David S. Smith, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Cheek demonstrates the Greengrocer epidural simulator

Dr. Cheek demonstrates the proper technique for the greengrocer epidrual simulator. Theodore Cheek M.D. is Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care and Director of Obstetrical Anesthesia at UPENN

Dr Cheek coaches using the Leighton Greengrocer epidural simulator

This is a video demonstration of Dr. Cheek coaching one of our anesthesia residents in the use of the Greengrocer epidural simulator.