Double Lumen iPhone App Review
Review by contributing author Tech Nick Lee:
Double Lumen is an app for the iPhone, iTouch and iPad produced by Crystal Clear Solutions. It is designed as a lung-isolation teaching tool, where the user is in control of the bronchoscope and needs to successfully deploy a double lumen tube (DLT) or a bronchial blocker. There is no Android version.
Review:
The app’s layout design is simple and easy to understand. I found myself using it without the need for instructions the moment I opened it. Any questions I had were answered by using it a few times. The main menu has three components: instructions, teaching and simulations.
The teaching mode goes over a quick bronchscopy exam, labeling each bronchus. The rest of the teaching section shows a correctly and incorrectly placed DLT.
The interactive section at the time of this review presents 3 bronchial blocker and 15 double-lumen tube simulations. Each simulation follows the same simple script: the user is taken down the tracheal lumen of a left DLT tube and offered four choices: pull the tube back, push the tube further in, move the scope to the other lumen or confirm that position is adequate.
By selecting one of the first three choices, the app calls a video reflecting the user’s choice, giving the appearance that the operator is manipulating a real bronchoscope. Once the virtual brochoscope is moved or the tube is manipulated a still image appears, and the user gets to choose from one of the four choices again until the position is correct. The app will playfully approve or disapprove with the user’s assessment of the position.
The library of images seems to be quite substantial with little duplication. One can view the app in portrait or landscape mode on the iPhone; one can only view image in portrait mode on the iPad. The video and still images are taken from a real bronchoscope, and for the most part are clear and easy to understand. With 18 simulations the app seems to present almost every situation one could face while placing a true DLT or blocker.
Highlights:
- Easy to use with a very short learning curve.
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Clear image, even on the iPad.
- A vast repository of images, videos and simulations covering most situations one will encounter during a real exam.
Areas for improvement:
- A small number of the videos have a lower resolution than the rest. While this is not a problem, it is noticeable.
- The images do not fully make use of the screen size on the iPad.
- While one can control the bronchoscope, the choices are limited. One might want to move the scope around to inspect the bronchi without moving it to the other port. Perhaps there can be an advanced mode offering more flexibility.
- An Android version is lacking.
Conclusion:
There is a dearth of anesthesia simulation apps; however, this one is a good start. Overall, this is an excellent, well designed app for the thoracic subspecialty of anesthesia, where exposure to as many bronchoscopy exams is the key for mastery.
