Introduction: The introduction of virtual reality within healthcare and specifically within simulation-based education, is a novel opportunity to enhance the care of our complex airway patients. ENT and anaesthetic teams frequently manage airway emergencies out-of-hours, yet our airway teaching programs have historically been delivered separately. There is a recognised need for both specialties to train together to develop team-working skills and share knowledge when managing difficult airways 1. Methods: We present our first regional collaborative airway teaching course delivered in February 2024 aimed at both ENT and anaesthetic trainees. This extensive high-fidelity full day program utilised a variety of teaching modalities including virtual reality (VR) oculus 3 headsets, Orsim bronchoscopy simulators, a simulated emergency cricothyroidotomy station and collaborative paediatric inhaled foreign body moulages. Our VR headsets have both adult and paediatric tracheostomy simulations and emergency ‘front of neck access’ scenarios in-built. An additional multi-player function allowed cross-specialty team working. Orsim delivered a pioneering flexible nasendoscopy technology to recreate difficult endotracheal intubation. Our emergency ‘front of neck access’ simulation utilised a bespoke mannikin to recreate the real-time tactile feedback. The paediatric inhaled foreign body moulage put our delegates through a comprehensive scenario from A29(1):36–43. Acknowledgments: Funding was provided by our own local ENT department to purchase two VR oculus 3 headsets from ‘goggleminds’ company on a running annual basis.
Donaldson et al. (Mon,) studied this question.