Cardiac Tamponade and Complete Heart Block During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Simulation Scenario for Anesthesia Providers

INTRODUCTION: This simulation on cardiac tamponade and complete heart block in the context of severe aortic stenosis presents the learner with a rare (cardiac tamponade) and a common (complete heart block) complication in the intraoperative setting of transfemoral aortic valve implantation in a high-fidelity, low-risk simulation environment. Based on an amalgam of index cases, the simulation was developed to address a recognized area of need for cardiothoracic anesthesia scenarios in the simulation curriculum of our home institution. METHODS: The simulation case file covered the case narrative, learning objectives, a summary of critical actions performed, and supplemental figures needed to complete the educational activity. A high-fidelity patient simulator, an anesthesia machine, monitors, and a computer capable of displaying standard computer slide presentation software and movie files provided the optimal environment for simulation. RESULTS: Fifteen anesthesia residents experienced the simulation over the 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 academic years. The trainees who experienced this simulation improved their understanding of tamponade hemodynamic pathophysiology and recognition of hemodynamically unstable bradycardia. DISCUSSION: This case has been an effective addition to the repertoire of simulation scenarios at the University of Iowa and has been incorporated into the general curriculum of simulation cases for mid-training junior and senior anesthesia residents.