Lesson 1Circuit assembly and priming setup: identifying ports, connectors, venous/arterial lines, cardioplegia line integrationExplains step-by-step circuit assembly and priming setup, including spotting ports, connectors, venous and arterial lines, and integrating cardioplegia lines, with tips to avoid wrong connections, air bubbles, and flow blocks.
Mapping venous and arterial line pathsIdentifying ports, connectors, and shuntsCardioplegia line routing and safetyStrategies to prevent misconnectionsAir management during initial primingLesson 2Priming solutions selection and calculation: formulas to calculate crystalloid/colloid volumes, blood prime thresholds, strategies to limit hemodilutionCovers choosing and calculating priming solutions, including crystalloid and colloid amounts, when to use blood prime, and ways to reduce hemodilution, with examples and tweaks for different patient types.
Estimating circuit volume and target hematocritCrystalloid versus colloid prime choicesBlood prime indications and thresholdsFormulas to limit hemodilutionWorked calculation examples by weightLesson 3Patient-specific priming considerations: adjusting prime for weight, BSA, hematocrit, renal risk, and COPDDiscusses customising prime and circuit plans based on patient factors like weight, body surface area, starting hematocrit, kidney risks, and COPD, balancing blood thickness, oxygen supply, and fluid load for best results.
Adjusting prime for weight and BSATarget hematocrit by comorbidity profileRenal risk and fluid balance planningStrategies for COPD and lung protectionUltrafiltration and hemoconcentration useLesson 4Pre-bypass functional checks: leak tests, bubble detectors, pressure monitors, emergency stop, pump occlusion, oxygenator integrityDescribes key pre-bypass checks for the CPB circuit, like leak tests, bubble detectors, pressure monitors, emergency stops, pump occlusion, and oxygenator checks, including fixes for any issues.
Static and dynamic leak testingBubble detector placement and testingPressure transducer zeroing and alarmsPump occlusion and emergency stop testsOxygenator integrity and gas path checksLesson 5Documentation and team communication checklist before cannulationOutlines proper documentation and team talk steps before cannulation, with checklists, role checks, timeout procedures, expected events, and backup plans to ensure everyone is on the same page for patient safety.
Pre-bypass checklist completionConfirming roles and responsibilitiesVerbalizing cannulation strategyDiscussing anticipated complicationsDocumenting baseline status and consentsLesson 6Infection control and sterile field coordination at cannulation siteFocuses on preventing infections and managing sterile areas at cannulation, including setup, equipment placement, movement control, and teamwork between perfusionist, surgeon, and nurses to cut contamination risks.
Sterile field layout and boundariesPerfusionist interaction with sterile teamHandling of cannulas and tubing endsManaging line contamination eventsDocumentation of infection control stepsLesson 7Medication and consumable checks: heparin, protamine, vasopressors, inotropes, blood products, antifibrinolytics, filters and oxygenator spare partsCovers thorough checks of medicines and supplies before bypass, like heparin, protamine, vasopressors, inotropes, blood products, antifibrinolytics, filters, and spare parts, with labelling, storage, and double-checks.
Heparin dosing, labeling, and availabilityProtamine preparation and backup plansVasopressors and inotropes readinessBlood products and antifibrinolytics setupFilters, oxygenator, and key spare partsLesson 8Monitoring setup verification: arterial lines, central venous/Mixed venous monitoring, temperature probes, cerebral oximetry, ACT point-of-care deviceDetails checks for monitoring systems before bypass, covering arterial and central venous lines, mixed venous samples, temperature probes, cerebral oximetry, and ACT devices, ensuring proper calibration, alarms, and records.
Arterial pressure line calibrationCentral and mixed venous monitoring setupTemperature probe placement and checksCerebral oximetry positioning and baselinesACT device quality control and loggingLesson 9CPB machine components: roller pump vs centrifugal, membrane oxygenator types, reservoirs, tubing materialsReviews main CPB machine parts, comparing roller and centrifugal pumps, membrane oxygenator types, reservoirs, and tubing, stressing blood flow performance, safety, and how to choose for patients.
Roller versus centrifugal pump mechanicsMembrane oxygenator structure and functionHard-shell versus soft-shell reservoirsTubing materials and biocompatibilityComponent selection for high-risk patients
