The AirSim Pierre Robin is a new addition to the TruCorp Pediatric range. It was developed to highlight the difficult airway management techniques used on infants with Pierre Robin or Stickler Syndrome. Pierre Robin is a common cause of difficult pediatric intubation.
This heterogeneous birth defect has a prevalence of approximately 1 per 8,500 live births. Some of the more obvious features include a jaw that is very small with a receding chin. Often the jaw is placed unusually far back in the throat with a tongue that is large-appearing compared to the jaw.
Anatomical features of the syndrome include significant mandibular hypoplasia, glossoptosis, cleft palate, and a bifid uvula. AirSim Pierre Robin is an anatomically correct model with very realistic features for training on these difficult pediatric airways.
It’s the toughest pediatric intubation manikin I’ve ever seen. I think it would be an important addition to any good paramedic program. What sense does it make to only practice on easy manikins, when it’s the toughest patients that get you into trouble?
Similar to Trucorp’s other recent products, the AirSim Pierre Robin has very realistic anatomy and skin. It permits training in all aspects of infant airway management including bag mask ventilation, and both nasal and orotracheal intubation. It helps students practice the difficult intubation techniques necessary for managing an infant with mandibular hypoplasia.
The AirSim Pierre Robin was designed in collaboration with clinicians from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Its anatomically correct airway has been designed from real CT scans, and details were modified based on feedback from anesthesiologists, plastic surgeons, and ENT surgeons.
The manikin is built on a sturdy lightweight frame and includes a carry case, so it’s very easy to transport. It also comes with lungs so that you can ventilate it to confirm tube placement. It is recommended for use with 3.5-4.0 sized endotracheal tubes.
