Patient Simulation Pulmonary Physiology Lab

Abstract

Abstract This simulation lab was created to fill a need in the medical school preclinical curriculum. It has been our experience that first- and second-year students are hungry for clinical exposure as they fulfill their basic science coursework. Our students have also expressed interest in patient simulation as a way to experience patient care and solidify the principles they are learning in lecture. We created a pulmonary simulation laboratory to address these desires, and because students often find pulmonary physiology to be conceptually difficult. In addition, many have trouble seeing its relationship to their future clinical practice. This resource provides exposure to two key concepts in respiratory physiology, notably simulations of acute obstructive and restrictive lung disease. One scenario illustrates obstructive pathophysiology by simulating acute bronchospasm. The second scenario simulates a tension pneumothorax in a pneumonectomy patient to illustrate acute restrictive airway disease. The discussion questions and slides focus on basic pulmonary physiology and obstructive and restrictive pathophysiology. The students discuss the difference between resistance and compliance, how to determine them clinically, and how to treat the patients. In three sessions comprising 18 students total, the simulations were well received. Students were more interested in pulmonary physiology as a result of the simulations and felt that understanding it was either important, very important, or extremely important for medical students and practicing physicians. They felt that the simulations made it easier to understand pulmonary physiology and that simulations should be included in more of their courses.

Keywords

• Tension Pneumothorax
• Hypoxia
• Lung Disease
• Obstructive Disorder
• Restrictive Disorder
• Bronchospasm