Eric You-Ten

Research Synopsis

Dr. You-ten has a special interest in simulation and education research in anesthesia crisis management. In particular, he is interested in the management of acute airway crises to improve patient care and outcome using simulation. His research interests are focused on (i) the technical and cognitive (non-technical) skills (ii) impact of model fidelity and (iii) educational modalities in acute crisis management. He has shown that acquisition of the life-saving procedure of surgical cricothyrotomy on a low fidelity model is transferable to performing this critical skill on human cadavers.(1) He has further demonstrated that lacking in this life-saving technical skill led to deficits in cognitive skills resulting in deviation from the ASA Difficult Airway Algorithm.(2)  Moreover, he showed that contextualizing a crisis scenario was not necessary in the performance of cricothyrotomy, an important finding in the cost-effectiveness in assessing a high stake procedural task.(3)

Dr. You-ten is also interests in the use of ultrasound in airway management. The use of ultrasound is prevalent in many aspects of the practice of anesthesia for reducing significant adverse patient outcomes. Percutaneous identification of the cricothyroid membrane is crucial for a successful cricothyrotomy, however, only a third of anesthesiologists correctly identify the cricoid thyroid membrane in female patients. He has demonstrated the important role of ultrasound in significantly improving the accuracy of percutaneous identification of the cricothyroid membrane in obese women in labour.(4) His research team was the first to demonstrate pre-procedural ultrasound of the cricothyroid membrane improved the outcomes and reduced the complications of surgical cricothyrotomy on human cadavers.(5)

References:

(1) Friedman Z, You-Ten KE, Bould MD, Naik V. Teaching lifesaving procedures: the impact of model fidelity on acquisition and transfer of cricothyrotomy skills to performance on cadavers. Anesth Analg. 2008;107:1663-9.
(2) You-Ten KE, Bould MD, Friedman Z, Riem N, Sydor D, Boet S. Cricothyrotomy training increases adherence to the ASA difficult airway algorithm in a simulated crisis: a randomized controlled trial. Can J Anaesth. 2015;62:485-94.
(3) You-Ten KE, Wong C, Arzola C, Cheung J, Friedman Z, Perelman S, Siddiqui N. Role of contextualizing a crisis scenario on the performance of a cricothyrotomy procedural task. Can J Anaesth. 2015;62:1104-1113.
(4) You-Ten KE, Desai D, Postonogova T, Siddiqui N.Accuracy of conventional digital palpation and ultrasound of the cricothyroid membrane in obese women in labour.  Anaesthesia. 2015 Jul 17[Epub ahead of print]
(5) Siddiqui N, Arzola C, Friedman Z, Guerina L, You-Ten KE. Ultrasound Improves Cricothyrotomy Success in Cadavers with Poorly Defined Neck Anatomy: A Randomized Control Trial.Anesthesiology. 2015 Sep 9 [Epub ahead of print]

Recent Publications

1. Siddiqui N, Arzola C, Friedman Z, Guerina L, You-Ten KE. Ultrasound Improves Cricothyrotomy Success in Cadavers with Poorly Defined Neck Anatomy: A Randomized Control Trial.Anesthesiology. 2015 Sep 9 [Epub ahead of print]
2. You-Ten KE, Desai D, Postonogova T, Siddiqui N.Accuracy of conventional digital palpation and ultrasound of the cricothyroid membrane in obese women in labour.  Anaesthesia. 2015 Jul 17[Epub ahead of print]
3. You-Ten KE, Wong C, Arzola C, Cheung J, Friedman Z, Perelman S, Siddiqui N. Role of contextualizing a crisis scenario on the performance of a cricothyrotomy procedural task. Can J Anaesth. 2015;62:1104-1113.
4. You-Ten KE, Bould MD, Friedman Z, Riem N, Sydor D, Boet S. Cricothyrotomy training increases adherence to the ASA difficult airway algorithm in a simulated crisis: a randomized controlled trial. Can J Anaesth. 2015;62:485-94.
5. Manzone J, Tremblay L, You-Ten KE, Desai D, Brydges R. Task- versus ego-oriented feedback delivered as numbers or comments during intubation training. Med Educ. 2014;48:430-40.
6. Friedman Z, You-Ten KE, Bould MD, Naik V. Teaching lifesaving procedures: the impact of model fidelity on acquisition and transfer of cricothyrotomy skills to performance on cadavers. Anesth Analg. 2008;107:1663-9.

Appointments

Staff Anesthesiologist and Associate Staff at University Health Network
Staff Anesthesiologist, Kensington Eye Institute

Honours and Awards

Name: Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Teaching
Description:

2015

Name: Faculty of Education Day Research Award
Description:

2013, 2014

Name: Anesthesia Departmental Merit Award
Description:

2011-2013 - University of Toronto, Development and Integration of An Airway Management Education Module in the Anesthesia Residency Curriculum

2011-2013 - Translational Performance of Crisis Resource Management

Courses

Course Number: Instructor Simulator Faculty Crisis Resource Management,
Course Name: SimSinai, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
Course Number: Course Director
Course Name: PGY1 Anesthesia Residency Comprehensive Airway Course, University of Toronto
Course Number: Instructor Anesthesia Residency Seminars
Course Name: PGY2 – PGY4 Airway Crisis Simulation, University of Toronto
Course Number: Instructor Anesthesia Residency Seminars
Course Name: PGY2 Obstetrics Anesthesia Crisis Simulation, University of Toronto
Course Number: Instructor Methods of Adult Procedural Sedation course (MAPS)
Course Name: SimSinai, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
Course Number: Instructor Anesthesia Assistant Program
Course Name: Obstetric Anesthesia, Michener Institute for Applied Science, Toronto