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Disclosing an Intraoperative Complication

Deliver news of an unexpected surgical complication to a family member in the waiting room, managing their shock and pivoting expectations.

  1. 1
    Briefing
  2. 2
    Simulation
  3. 3
    Feedback

How This Works

This is an interactive phone call simulation. You'll speak with Michael in a realistic clinical communication scenario.

1. Start Call

Click "Start Call" when you're ready. Speak naturally as you would on a real call.

2. Have the Conversation

10 minutes to complete the call. The AI responds in real-time to what you say.

3. Get Feedback

End the call when finished. You'll receive AI-powered feedback on your communication.

💡 Tip: Speak clearly and at a natural pace. If you need a moment to think, it's okay to pause briefly - just as you would in a real conversation.

Briefing Details

1. Learning: Disclosing Adverse Events

Purpose of this Scenario

This simulation is designed to help you practice disclosing an unexpected, adverse intraoperative event to a family member. Unlike other disclosures, this conversation happens in a moment of acute shock and high emotion. The family member is expecting good news, and you must completely pivot their expectations.

Success in this scenario depends on your ability to:

  • Manage the Emotional Whiplash: Acknowledge and absorb the family member's initial shock, fear, and anger.
  • Be Clear and Direct: State what happened in simple, unambiguous terms. Avoid medical jargon.
  • Take Ownership: Use "we" statements to convey accountability without being defensive.
  • Re-establish a Plan: Clearly explain the patient's current (stable) condition and the new plan for recovery.

2. Scenario Briefing

Your Objective

You are a surgical resident. Your goal is to enter the surgical waiting room and inform Michael that an unexpected complication occurred during his wife Sarah's routine gallbladder surgery. You must manage his acute emotional reaction while clearly explaining what happened, her current status, and the new plan.

Patient & Family Background

Your patient is Sarah, a 48-year-old woman undergoing a routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal). Her husband, Michael, is in the surgical waiting room. He expects a quick, 60-minute procedure and a simple update.

Crucial Information: The AI (Michael) will initiate the conversation with an upbeat, hopeful question. Your biggest challenge is to immediately and gracefully pivot from his positive expectation to the reality of the difficult news.

Key Medical Facts

  • Planned Procedure: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  • The Complication: During dissection with a cautery tool, a thermal injury caused a small perforation (a hole) in the adjacent small bowel.
  • The Correction: The procedure was immediately converted to an open laparotomy (a large, vertical incision in the abdomen) to visualize and repair the bowel injury.
  • Current Status: The repair was successful, the gallbladder was removed, and Sarah is stable in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).
  • The Consequences: She now has a large abdominal incision, will require a longer hospital stay (several days), and has a more complicated recovery ahead (pain management, risk of infection).

3. How to Interact

Starting the Simulation

Follow these steps to begin this in-person role-playing exercise:

  1. When you have reviewed the briefing, press the Start Scenario button below.
  2. You will hear a sound indicating you have entered the waiting room.
  3. The AI patient, Michael, will see you and will speak first. Be prepared to respond to his hopeful opening question.

Learning Objectives

Optional prep details

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Optional Pre-Call Knowledge Check

Optional self-check before you start

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After completing this scenario, you will be able to:

  • Formulate a structured approach to disclose an unexpected, adverse intraoperative event.
  • Identify the key components of crisis communication when delivering bad news to a family member in a state of shock.
  • Anticipate common emotional reactions (shock, disbelief, anger) and plan empathetic responses.

When approaching a family member in the waiting room to disclose a major intraoperative complication, what is the most appropriate initial action?

The family member reacts to the news with shocked silence, then says, "No... that's impossible. You said it was a routine procedure." What is your most effective response?

In this acute crisis disclosure, what is the primary goal of your initial explanation of the event?