Casey Albin, MD Profile picture
Oct 30, 2021 19 tweets 13 min read Read on X
1/
A #tweetorial about simulation in NCC
Today @namorris opened his remarks on Sim in NCC @ #NCS2021 w/ a simple question about the correct first line treatment for SE? Everyone got it.

Then he posed a tougher question.

How often does that happen?

No one voted "always"
2/
Even the most groundbreaking research won’t benefit our patients if we aren’t delivering it correctly.

I so highly encourage you to check out Nick’s talk on-demand if you have access to #NCS2021.

It is 🚨critical🚨 that we teach more effectively!
3/
Convinced?

Some practical, take-aways from this talk about finding right Simulation Solution. Image
4/
Simulation is an amazing educational tool. But it can be used in other ways, too!

Simulation can be used to:
⭐️to evaluate trainees
⚡️ as a research tool to understand learners and systems
✨to understanding systems integration & improve care delivery.
5/
Defining the simulation’s goal is defining the “Why”.

And if you are interested in approaching this as research, it is crucial to approach it with a hypothesis and have a methodology in mind from the start. Another amazing pearl from @namorris. Image
6/
From the “why” you also will need to define the purpose of the sim -- the “what”:

“what is the learning object” “What are we trying to improve with this?”

Lots of options: Image
7/
What you want to accomplish defines “how” you should accomplish this. Simulation can be done through tissue models, task trainers, manikins, apps, virtual reality, standardized patient, and more Image
8/
It seems straight forward but the fidelity is only “high” or “low” in reference to your goal --
👉Teaching LPs on a task trainer is “high fidelity”
👉Teaching communication and leadership training with a task trainer…
9/
So we’ve got the “Why do this” & “What is the purpose” & “How are we going to do this”

But u also need “How are we going to run the case?”

A tradition model is to run the case & debrief @ the end
But, as @Capt_Ammonia loves, you can also rapid cycle & debrief as you go!
10/
Putting it all together. Each simulation:
👉has an overall goal: the “WHY” do this
👉has a purpose & specific learning objectives: the “WHAT” is it we are trying to accomplish
👉has a modality and method: the ”HOW” we are going to run the case Image
11/
But simulation in neurocritical care has its own challenges.
1⃣How real is real enough?

A manikin falls short in the neuro exam.

Want to learn what the Babinski sign looks like?... manikin isn't going to cut it.

Check out @grepmeded instead
12/
But in the context of stroke, seizure, brain death, etc if you want to train learners to initiate a diagnostic workup, interpret radiology, correctly dose medications, screen for confounders, communicate findings… The manikin’s exam matters less.
13/
Work Sahar Zafar & I did @ MGH Learning Lab demonstrating that residents gained the same amount of confidence and knowledge in simulations with SPs as they did with a manikin. So glad @DanHarrisonMD and others are carrying this work forward @harvardneuromds! Image
14/
2⃣nd challenge: Does a learner’s performance in the sim lab correlate with how they are going to perform in real life?
This study (@namorris) suggests so! Sim-Based Assessment of Graduate Neurology Trainees' Performance Managing Acute Ischemic Stroke pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34706974/
15/
Finally – how are we going to prove that the work we do in a simulation lab translates to what really matters: improving patient outcomes.

It can be done but it's a challenge and requires a lot of accounting for confounders... the opposite of:
15/
But, I'm confident we in neuro/NCC we can overcome these challenges; there are so many awesome educators passionate about improving the delivery of care through sim @Tracey1milligan @captammonia @ghoshal_shivani @judyhtchang @aartisarwal @drdangayach @namorrismd and others!!
16/
I hope we can come together do multi-site studies and measure our impact!

And if you're new to sim, I cannot, cannot, cannot recommend the course at @MedSimulation more highly. Truly, it is LIFE CHANGING.

@GetCuriousNow @sim_podcast
17/
Thank you again, @namorris and @neurocritical for inviting me to speak. Its exciting to see #meded in #NCS2021! So excited for what the future of sim in neurocritical care!! #NCS2022
(And for fun sims @ @EmoryNeuroCrit! @JimmySuhMD @CajalButterfly @sigman_md @EricLawson90!)

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More from @caseyalbin

Oct 23
1/
I once heard that a fever in the ICU was a "fever of too many origins."

Same can be said altered mental status/encephalopathy!

We put together a comprehensive approach to these challenging patients for #SeminarsinNeurology

A thread with our approach!
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39137901/Image
2/
Start with 'is the AMS appropriate for the degree of critical illness?'

Often it is.

But do some digging, did the AMS precede the illness? ...Is it more than what you would expect?

Start with this flow chart⬇️ Image
3/
Is there AMS+ Fever+ headache/meningismus/photophobia or seizures??
(AMS + fever is usually septic encephalopathy)

Add the other findings= reasonable concern for CNS infection... start here⬇️; remember that CNS infections can cause ICP issues and infectious vasculopathy! Image
Read 5 tweets
Sep 20
1/
A 34 yo M presents with worsening confusion and seizures. He is febrile.

He is intubated and transferred to the NeuroICU.

A #continuumcase about a cause that’s probably low (not) on your DDx. Image
2/
I’m not even going to ask if you want an LP next, because “Fever, Status, AMS” = I wanted that LP way before this MRI.

You get one and the protein is 80, TNC #155, and glucose 80 (serum 147). Cultures and HSV PCR are pending.
3/
We are clearly in the realm of “inflammation.”

W/ the leptomeningeal enhancement, I’m not ruling bacterial meningitis out (empiric abx until culture back!), but the glucose is reassuringly high for that. Viral meningoencephalitis is a top consideration so bring on acyclovir!
Read 11 tweets
Sep 3
1/
A 75 yo M is brought in by his wife bc he is forgetful & “continues to drop things.”

She notes he's increasingly tearful, forgetful, and has an odd movement in his right hand.

MRI, EEG, LP were all normal.

In the room he keeps doing this with his face:
A #ContinuumCase Image
2/
What do you worry about most?
3/
Any of these would be reasonable. You could certainly frame this as a rapidly progressive dementia (BTW there is an excellent continuum article on the subject, this is one of the most visited on the website!)

journals.lww.com/continuum/full…
Read 12 tweets
Aug 29
1/
25-yo M p/w status epilepticus.

He has been paranoid and confused in the previous weeks.

MRI 👇. A large abdominal mass was identified on imaging.

You know what this is, but do you know why we treat it the way we do?

A #ContinuumCase on immunomodulators Image
2/
ok ok, everyone gets to vote on what's going on before we dive in on how we are going to treat it and why.

so what do you think?
3/
Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is caused by anti-neural antibodies against the cell surface proteins (in this cause the NMDA receptor) this causes in a stereotyped way a progression through
⭐️Psychosis
⭐️Seizures
⭐️Sympathetic storming
⭐️Orofacial dystonias
Read 18 tweets
Aug 20
1/
A 30 yo woman p/w 2 days of worsening paraparesis, left arm paresthesias and urinary retention. No change in vision.

Exam: hyperreflexic in the legs bilaterally+ sensory level at T10.

MRI C/T Spine + MRI Brain. And you find this … what to do for this #continuumcase? Image
2/
Just looking at the scan, history, and her demographic, what do you think?
3/
There are several things that might make you think MS:
➡️short segments of spinal cord lesions
➡️periventricular lesions.

However, the lesions look a bit funny, right?
Read 15 tweets
Jun 27
1/ A 63 yo W presented after a fall down stairs. She’s initially confused and then collapses.

Her left pupil is dilated and non-reactive! CT scan👇

Our NSGY friendsevacuate the blood 🙏, and she much improved … initially.

But then she has fluctuating aphasic.

What now? Image
2/
Subdurals are an increasing problem given the aging population and anticoagulation use.

Primary evacuation is recommend when thickness > 10mm or shift >5mm regardless of GCS

+for those patients who are significantly symptomatic regardless of size (our patient meets both)
3/
Neurologic complications after subdurals are common.

What do you think is going on in this #continuumcase
Read 12 tweets

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