TREATMENT OF VENTRICULAR-FIBRILLATION DURING ANESTHESIA IN AN ANESTHESIA SIMULATOR

Background: To evaluate treatment of ventricular fibrillation (VF) occ urring during anaesthesia and the use of a full-scale simulator, SO an aesthetists in teams of two were attending a training session in the s imulator Sophus. Methods: The sessions were recorded on videotape and reviewed with the anaesthetists afterwards. Time of treatment and the sequence were registered. Results: Onset time for VF was the starting point. Most of the subjects changed respiratory settings. Four teams d id not change inspiratory oxygen and 17 teams did not turn off the vap oriser. Cardiac compression was initiated by all teams. DC-defibrillat ion was not used by two teams, with 38 of 40 teams defibrillating once , 37 twice and 29 teams three times. Adrenaline was administered by 30 of 40 teams. Conclusion: There was very little consistency among the teams regarding treatment for VF according to accepted algorithms. An anaesthesia simulator could be a tool for training and it is a safe wa y of demonstrating for the anaesthetist that certain treatment algorit hms and behaviour during critical incidents are the most effective.