Teamwork in Action: Improving Emergency Response for Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Through Simulation Training

Background: Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA) have a high mortality rate, close to 50%, despite a decrease in incidence in many European and American countries. Improving emergency response through simulation training could significantly enhance patient outcomes. Objective: To determine whether simulation training and theoretical sessions reviewing the clinical practice protocol for rAAA management improve emergency team performance. Methods: Prospective, single-center, evaluative study on teaching activities based on a course for managing ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA) through teamwork simulations conducted at Bellvitge University Hospital, a tertiary care center. The study included vascular surgeons, anesthesiologists, scrub nurses, and porters. . The intervention consisted of a course on rAAA management, including protocol revision and simulation sessions. Results: A total of 35 participants (mean age 35.1 (27-55), 40% male) completed the course. The time between the emergency call and patient treatment was significantly reduced from 41 minutes to 31 minutes (a 24,5% reduction time). All participants reported high satisfaction with the course and perceived significant improvement in their skills. Conclusions: Simulation training and theoretical sessions on rAAA management significantly improve emergency team performance and shorten the time between the emergency call and patient treatment. This study provides a replicable methodology that can be implemented in other medical centers to enhance emergency response and patient outcomes for rAAA.