Left-Handed Central Line: The Right Way Is Not Always Right

Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

10-1-2021

Abstract

Background: Central line placement is an ACGME Key Index Emergency Medicine procedure. At the onset of Emergency Medicine training, learners are given instruction on central line placement including room set-up, positioning, ultrasound use and execution. For left-handed learners, the set up and positioning for certain procedures differs from right-handed learners. Without left-handed instruction, our left-handed learners struggle to find their way. From set-set up, where to put the tray and how to position their hands, they felt unsure. When right-handed colleagues were queried, they would tell them to do it their way or just use your right hand. There are very few instructional videos on the web. Several left-handed residents struggled to learn procedures during training related to their handedness during the last 2 academic years. We discuss the struggles they faced and created a learning module to assist left-handed learners develop their skills. The module will serve as a foundation for their procedural learning, initially focusing on central lines. Study Objective: To create a learning module tailored to left-hand dominant learners (LHDL) for central lines. Methods: Design: We developed an instructional module on central line placement for left-hand dominant learners. The module has two parts. Part 1 contains two videos on central line placement for internal jugular and femoral approaches that were produced and included in the module. It describes procedure and room set up for the left-handed learner as well as procedural approach and execution. Part 2 includes written instructions detailing some of the specific struggles that left-handed residents face and guidance to overcome them. The learner will take a pre-test and is expected to read the written portion as well as watch the videos prior to procedure labs or performing the procedure on a patient. The learner will then take a post-test to evaluate their experience. The left-handed learner will be evaluated using standard procedural evaluation form. The form will be filled out by senior faculty. The same form will be used for both right and left-handed learners. The goal is procedural competence. The pre- and post-tests will evaluate the learner’s level of preparedness before beginning the module and after completion of the module and procedure performance. Conclusion: We have developed a module for future left-hand dominant learners to make it easier for the to acquire the skill of central line placement. The module will be offered to all left-hand dominant learners during the upcoming academic year. [Formula presented] No, authors do not have interests to disclose

Publication Title

Annals of Emergency Medicine

Volume

84

Issue

4 Supplement 1

First Page

S226

Last Page

S226

Comments

ACEP24 held 2024-09-29 to 2024-10-02 in Las Vegas, NV

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