Medical perfusion has been practiced as a discipline in Australia for more than three decades. Thus far the training has been conducted on an apprenticeship basis with no formal theoretical component. The Australasian Society of Medical Perfusion (ASMP) in conjunction with the University of Melbourne, has developed an online professional development course to provide the theoretical knowledge base needed for the study and practice of medical perfusion.

 

Designed For

It is best that this course is studied while a student is working in a cardiac fellowship program that includes cardiac anaesthesia and transoesophageal echocardiography.

 

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the student should have comprehensively covered the theory related to medical perfusion and have been immersed in multiple practical examples that relate this theory to the practice of the discipline. After completing the course, participants should:

1. Have a detailed knowledge of the equipment that is used in cardiopulmonary bypass and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. This includes understanding the circuits, the heat exchangers, cell savers, cannulas and monitors.
2. Understand the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass on the major organ systems including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, hematological and endocrine. In addition, the impact of cardiopulmonary bypass on the pharmacology of the drugs used is included.
3. Be able to completely manage all aspects of cardiopulmonary bypass including setting up the circuits, cannulation, commencement of bypass, maintenance of bypass, separation from bypass, hemodialysis on bypass, intra-aortic balloon pump, ECMO and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.
4. Understand how to manage problems that can occur on cardiopulmonary bypass including circuit thrombosis, oxygenator failure, anaphylaxis, failure of the heart lung machine and massive air embolism among others.