Courses

Thoracotomy and Airway Management Course

1 Day

Duration

Location

Nottingham, United Kingdom

Group Size

Catering

Provided

Date

TBC

Course Overview

Thoracotomy and airway course focuses on high-acuity interventions that are rarely performed but may be life-saving in extreme emergency situations, particularly in trauma, emergency medicine and pre-hospital care. Participants develop practical competence through expert-led teaching, realistic simulation and structured skills stations, designed to replicate the pressures of frontline clinical practice.

Why Thoracotomy and Airway Course Matter

Resuscitative thoracotomy and advanced airway management are among the most challenging procedures in acute care. When required, clinicians must act decisively, confidently and with technical precision. This resuscitative thoracotomy course strengthens clinicians’ ability to: This course strengthens clinicians’ ability to:

Perform life-saving thoracotomy procedures

Manage complex and difficult airway scenarios

Deliver front-of-neck access (FONA) in failed airway situations

Apply structured rapid sequence induction (RSI) techniques

Safely insert surgical chest drains

Function effectively within trauma teams during high-pressure scenarios

The training is designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world clinical performance.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This trauma procedural skills course is suitable for clinicians working in emergency and critical care environments, including:

Higher Specialty Trainees (ST4+) in Emergency Medicine, Anaesthetics, Intensive Care or Trauma Surgery
Core Trainees (CT1–CT3) with an interest in trauma or airway management
Advanced Clinical Practitioners in Emergency or Critical Care
Pre-hospital and Retrieval Medicine clinicians
Senior Emergency Department nurses involved in trauma care
Military and tactical medicine clinicians
Doctors with a strong interest in acute or trauma care

COURSE FORMAT

This fona Training course is designed to maximise hands-on procedural training through immersive learning.

Training includes:

Expert-led teaching sessions
Practical skills stations
Small group rotations
High-fidelity simulation

Faculty-led feedback and debrief

The course prioritises maximum hands-on time with a high faculty-to-participant ratio.

KEY FEATURES

Focus on rare but life-saving emergency procedures
High-intensity, simulation-based training
Realistic trauma scenarios replicating frontline conditions
Small group teaching with expert faculty
Structured, guideline-aligned procedural training
Strong emphasis on decision-making under pressure
Immediate applicability to clinical and pre-hospital environments

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this resuscitative thoracotomy training, participants will be able to:

Perform Resuscitative Thoracotomy

Demonstrate the key steps of a clamshell thoracotomy
Understand thoracic anatomy and exposure techniques
Manage cardiac injuries in emergency scenarios

Manage Advanced Airways

Perform rapid sequence induction (RSI) safely
Apply structured airway management strategies
Troubleshoot difficult airway scenarios

Perform Front-of-Neck Access (FONA)

Recognise indications for emergency surgical airway
Perform FONA in “can’t intubate, can’t oxygenate” situations

Insert Surgical Chest Drains

Identify appropriate indications
Perform safe insertion using a structured approach
Recognise and manage complications

Apply Clinical Decision-Making

Work effectively within trauma teams
Apply structured approaches in high-pressure environments
Translate technical skills into real-world clinical practice

COURSE TIMETABLE

Time	Session
09:30	Arrival, Registration and Faculty Briefing
09:45	Welcome, Course Overview and Faculty Introduction
10:00-11:00	Thoracotomy Lecture and Demonstration
11:00-11:15	Break
11:15-12:15	Skills Stations Rotation
12:15-13:15	Skills Stations Rotation
13:15-14:00	Lunch
14:00-15:00	Skills Stations Rotation
15:00-16:00	Skills Stations Rotation
16:00-16:15	Course Feedback and Debrief

WHAT MAKES THIS COURSE DIFFERENT

Focuses on high-risk, low-frequency procedures essential in trauma care
Intensive hands-on training in realistic simulated environments
Strong emphasis on decision-making under pressure
Multidisciplinary teaching from experienced trauma clinicians
Integration of airway, thoracic and procedural skills in one course
Designed for clinicians working in high-acuity environments
Immediate translation to real-world clinical and pre-hospital practice