Make electrical safety a top priority with this setup, please.

SALAD Mannequin Construction

By James DuCanto, M.D., Quality Officer,  Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA (2015-10-03, updated 2015-10-23 by Y Chow)

1. Obtain a mannequin with a well defined esophagus.
2. Obtain PVC Tubing
   1. 5/8″ inner diameter (I.D.) and 7/8″ outer diameter (O.D) with at lease 8 feet of length. This is for the various parts of the SALAD system works very well with quick connects on garden hoses.
3. Insert a segment of the 5/8 PVC tubing into the esophagus of the mannequin.
   1. Nasco brand mannequins allow this without much trouble, Laerdal mannequins may require a little improvisation with a connector.
   2. Bind the tubing to the esophagus with a zip tie or alternatively, an acrylic glue such as Shoe Goo.
4. Use garden hose Quick Connects to
   make hose connections (Figure 3). To cap off the 5/8 hose, use two of the male quick-connectors back to back so that they can plug into a hose, with the free end available to interface with a female quick-connect piece.
5. Obtain an inexpensive (10 dollar) drill powered fluid pump from the hardware store. These pumps don’t last long as the artificial vomit is a  bit hard on them (vinegar degreases the bearings, and the pumps begin to seize).  Count on the pump lasting only one or two simulations, as long as they are within a few days apart.  Otherwise, resign yourself to the knowledge that these things won’t last long.
6. Acquire an inexpensive (24 dollar) corded variable speed drill for the simulation.
7. Utilize the Quick Connect system to fasten a length of 5/8 tubing from the output side of the pump to the PVC tubing on the mannequin. The most efficient arrangement is to create a 5/8 PVC tubing of 2-3 foot length capped by the female quick connects on both ends, and cap the drill pump on both ends with male quick connects.
8. Create a reservoir system for the artificial vomit. I have used 2.5 gallon water carriers
9. Mix the artificial vomit in the following formula:
   1. Xanthan gum powder 10 ml (2 teaspoon) per 1 liter of white or apple vinegar. This can be prepared the night before the simulation.
      1. Vinegar is used to help prevent mold from developing in the hoses.
      2. Yen’s limited experience with an N=1 so far as of Sep 2015 is that water can be used instead but make sure that you thoroughly clean the setup with water afterwards. The xanthan gum solution is organic and will spoil with time.
   2. Use a blender to mix thoroughly. You will want at least a gallon of artificial vomit to keep the simulation running smoothly between students.
   3. Food coloring to make the mixture a dark color helps the simulation.  I am not impressed with Red coloring (looks brown on VL), but Green is impressive, and absorbs up the laryngoscope light, further making the simulation more challenging.
10. Control Systems (Make electrical safety a top priority with this setup, please):
    1. Table Lamp Dimmer (~10 dollars rheostat): This gadget will allow you to control the speed of the drill (when the drill is locked on maximum RPM).  Adjust the speed of the pump to the desired flow rate of simulated vomit. [Yen’s thoughts: Note that I do not think these are designed for use with motorized parts and disclaimers on the parts may state to use with max 150-300 W lamp load to reduce the risk of fire. Prolonged use may increase the risk of damage and overheating to the parts. Another option might be to just use the variable speed trigger of the drill but this is harder to remote control it.]
    2. Remote wireless on/off switch (also around 10 dollars)
    3. Arrangement of Control System:
       1. Plug wireless switch into GFCI wall socket. This is highly recommended due to the vicinity of fluids and the electrical wires.
       2. Plug the table lamp dimmer into the switch. Now plug the drill into the table lamp dimmer, and set the drill to maximum speed by squeezing the trigger of the drill and depressing the colored locking button on the left side of the hand grip.
       3. Vary the speed of the drill by sliding the switch on the dimmer.
       4. Connect drill to the pump. Do not run pump without liquid.
       5. Keep all electrical connections well away from fluids.
11. System setup
    1. Connect all tubings
    2. Put towels on the floor: this could get ugly.
    3. Prime pump and system-mannequin using gravity from Simulated Vomit reservoir to pump and then mannequin. Set speed control to slow to moderate.
    4. Have your suction system ready. Ensure that it is working properly. Consider having a manual backup for the participants to try as well. Having participants use the equipment that they are used to is most valuable.
    5. Check electrical safety in the setup, please.
       1. Use a GFCI plug-in source of power.
       2. Electrical safety is your responsibility, as you are using electric systems around fluids. Be smart, plan ahead to avoid fluid from getting on the drill, wire connections or other electric parts.  As many of you guys are FireFighters in addition to Paramedics, I welcome your suggestion to improve this safety detail (like a GFI powerstrip for example). We also welcome any expert opinions from engineers or electricians etc.

          

12. Initial learning exercises:
    1. “Static Exercise”—Fill the pharynx of the mannequin to the level of the uvula or slightly above. Give the participant directions to decontaminate the pharynx thoroughly, then intubate the trachea, followed by deliberate suctioning of the tracheal tube with a 18 french flexible suction catheter to decontaminate the tube and trachea.
    2. “Dynamic Exercise”—Run the pump during the intubation exercise in such a manner that the participant is challenged to decontaminate the airway but not overwhelmed.
       1. Video laryngoscopy allows you to see what they are faced with
       2. Standard traditional geometry VL/DL blades allow the student to do DL while you observe the screen and record the attempt for debriefing/review.
       3. Do not humiliate the student deliberately by totally and hopelessly overwhelming them with Simulated Vomit—you are trying the build their skill and understanding, not tear them down.  Yes it is possible to do that with this system.
       4. You will be surprised at the emotional reaction the students will exhibit when you put them through this simulation.  You want to build resilience and tenacity with this exercise—you do not want them to exhibit fear and avoidance at this challenge, neither in simulation nor in actual clinical practice.
    3. Check that electrical systems remain fluid free and clear from the liquids.
13. System Tear Down
    1. Check that fluids and electrical systems have remained clear of each other first. Be cautious as expected with fluids are used near electricity. Disconnect the power before tear down starts.
    2. I will commonly soak all parts of the simulation (except the power drill) in a tub of water. Purchase a moderately large plastic bin to use to soak the mannequin head as well as other parts.
    3. Gaskets in the Quick-Connects usually are eaten away by prolonged contact to vinegar—purchase a pack of extra gaskets, and throw away gaskets that are obviously disintegrating.
    4. Vinegar will prevent mold and other biologics from growing in your mannequin system—that is why I recommend it. (Yen has used water without issue in his N=1 as of Sep 2015. In this case it is crucial that the system be flushed and cleaned extra thoroughly. Residual xanthan gum and moisture will spoil and smell and possibly grow mold).
14. Low tech non-powered version is being developed/trialed by Yen. As of September 2015 it has had one trial run. He will update this post on his adventures with this in the coming months. [Update 2015-10-22 use the foley bag only for single use sim session … or it might explode from wear and tear. Other thoughts are to try making or buying a hand pump for it but I have not tried that yet.]

Take your training system to the highest, most awesome and impressive area in your facility. Do in-situ or guerilla-warfare simulation with it! Train with the system in closed confines, like in the back section of your fellow colleagues’ Chevy Suburban, or else inside PHARM aircraft and land ambulances!