AirwayVR: Learning Endotracheal Intubation in Virtual Reality

Abstract

Endotracheal intubation is a procedure in which a tube is passed through the mouth into the trachea (windpipe) to maintain an airway and provide artificial respiration. This lifesaving procedure, utilized in many clinical situations, requires complex psychomotor skills. Healthcare providers need significant training and experience to acquire skills necessary for a quick and atraumatic endotracheal intubation to prevent complications. However, medical professionals have limited training platforms and opportunities to be trained on this procedure. In this poster, we present a virtual reality-based simulation trainer for intubation training. This VR based intubation trainer provides an environment for healthcare professionals to assimilate these complex psychomotor skills while also allowing a safe place to practice swift and atraumatic intubation. User survey results are presented demonstrating that VR is a promising platform to train medical professionals effectively for this procedure.