Introduction
Simulation-based learning is an effective means of teaching disease management and procedural skills for treating critically ill patients in the austere environment. Although high fidelity mannequins can simulate multiple disease states and procedures, it is usually cost prohibitive to use such expensive equipment in the wilderness. It is therefore common practice for simulations to involve a “live actor” patient combined with standalone anatomical models for conducting procedures. This arrangement has certain limitations, including putting the live actor at risk as well as inability to simulate certain disease states. We seek to understand the feasibility of creating a low-cost mannequin platform that can be adapted to simulate various disease states and procedural skills.
Objective
To determine the feasibility of creating a simulation mannequin for less than $500 that can simulate heart and lung sounds, cricothyrotomy, tension pneumothorax needle decompression, and arterial injury.
Methods
A polystyrene adult male mannequin ($115) was purchased from AMT Mannequins. This mannequin then was modified to allow for simulated procedures. A Bluetooth speaker ($20) was mounted in the chest that could play heart and lung sounds. The anterior neck was removed and a cricothyrotomy simulator was constructed in its place using foam tape, gauze pads, ketchup packets, and ventilator tubing. A tension pneumothorax needle decompression simulator was placed in the right midclavicular line using foam tape, gauze, and InstaMorph moldable plastic ($35), which was used to construct custom ribs. A femoral arterial injury was simulated using a 1 L bag of normal saline in a pressure bag mounted inside the torso, connected to IV tubing running into the thigh.
Results
The total cost of the custom mannequin was approximately $170.
Conclusions
It is feasible to construct an inexpensive simulation mannequin that can be used to simulate heart and lung sounds and for practicing multiple procedural skills.