[Team training for anesthesia-related difficult airway management performed by participation of surgical center nurses and anesthesiologists].

BACKGROUND: Difficult airway management (DAM) is one of the most important issues for anesthesiologists. The DAM practical seminar was held for the purpose of improving skill and ability for decision-making to the anesthesiologist's DAM.

METHODS: In clinical setting, perioperative medical team, which consists of anesthesiologists and nurses, has to struggle against difficult airway cases. To improve the ability of team practice for DAM, we started a training program corresponding to difficult airway management which a nurse and the anesthesiologist jointly perform in the Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital Central Operation Center.

RESULTS: From September 2005 to September 2006, we held 6 seminars and 18 anesthesiologists and 17 nurses took part in them. The comment after attendance shows that it was very useful. In scenario session, we trained case management according to the routine emergency call system of Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital Central Operation Center. During session, we discovered the defect of the manual corresponding to emergency, and its improvement.

CONCLUSIONS: The DAM practical seminar in the hospital is useful not only for perioperative team practice training, but also for improving the emergency call system.