High-Fidelity Simulation Case: Teaching Diabetic Ketoacidosis With Cerebral Edema

Abstract Diabetic ketoacidosis is a common complaint throughout the emergency departments of the United States. However, the subsequent development of cerebral edema is a rarely encountered and critical clinical entity. Though residents and medical students have a great deal of exposure through their clinical time to diabetic ketoacidosis, very few have the opportunity to witness the development of cerebral edema and aid in its management. It is for this reason that this simulation has been developed to prepare the learner for the actual disease process should it occur. This simulation case goes through the recognition and management of this challenging condition. The learner should demonstrate expected competencies in the management of both clinical entities however the primary focus is in the simulation of the development and subsequent management of cerebral edema. This curriculum has been used by emergency medicine residents at SUNY Upstate in order to model a rare clinical entity to prepare them for their actual clinical encounters. The simulation case has been used by 30-33 residents with good success and very positive feedback.