Design of a patient simulator for clinicians training in mechanical ventilation: SimVep.

Abstract

Respiratory diseases are increasingly prevalent worldwide, often leading to critical conditions that require mechanical ventilation for life support. Proper management of these cases demands that clinicians be highly trained to respond effectively to various ventilatory manoeuvres during the recovery process. In this context, training tools for medical staff in mechanical ventilation become essential. Countries with emerging economies, such as Colombia, frequently face technological and economic limitations that restrict access to advanced medical training resources. As a result, the development of physical and virtual patient simulators presents a viable solution, as they can be designed using accessible technologies to support training in low-resource settings. This study presents SimVep, a patient simulator designed to emulate the physiological behaviour of obstructive and restrictive pulmonary conditions. The primary objective of SimVep is to enhance clinician training in mechanical ventilation, enabling healthcare professionals to acquire critical skills and improve patient outcomes in real-world clinical environments.