Online video training for managing postoperative neck hemorrhage

Objective: Postoperative neck hemorrhage (PNH) and subsequent hematoma formation are well-documented complications of head and neck surgery that can result in severe airway narrowing. A rapid response from co-medical staff to surgeons is critical in life-threatening situations. For this purpose, we created an online training video to help nurses easily grasp key points from the consensus statement on PNH management issued by the Japanese Center for Medical Safety and Assistance.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted remotely at the otorhinolaryngology departments of seven hospitals (two university hospitals and five general hospitals) between January and March 2023. Several data points were collected and compared before and after nurses watched the video.

Results: A total of 101 nurses participated. Before watching the video, significant differences were observed in the perceived risk of asphyxia and knowledge of its causes between those with and without prior PNH experience (p = 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). After watching the video, nurses recognized that oxygen saturation plays only a limited role in the early detection of PNH. They also understood that hematoma removal, but not suction of the airway, is crucial in the management of PNH (p < 0.01). Their confidence in PNH management significantly increased, regardless of prior experience (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: This training video effectively reinforced key aspects of PNH management outlined in the consensus statement and improved nurses’ confidence in responding to PNH.