ABSTRACT
Background: In the absence of uniform European regulations, there have been many differences in the training of perfusionists across Europe. Furthermore, there has been no uniform or single European accreditation of the profession. One of the objectives of The European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (EBCP) is to standardise and monitor training of perfusionists across Europe whilst offering support in accordance with national regulations. This goal is particularly imminent as there have been numerous newly founded National perfusion societies, particularly from Eastern European countries, which are now established members of EBCP.Purpose: In this article, we provide an updated overview or 'snapshot' of current European perfusion training programs that were accessible in 2022. Nationally acquired data refers to 2022 unless stated otherwise. The last overview of Perfusion education in Europe was reported over 15 years ago including 20 countries.Research Design: For this report thirty-two national EBCP delegates plus representatives from Austria were contacted at the beginning of 2023 to complete a pro forma questionnaire about their national perfusion training programmes. The data has been summarized in this article and five additional derived parameters were calculated.Results: We received responses from 31 countries, providing specific national training characteristics which are summarized, listed and benchmarked by country in this article.Conclusion: There have been several national and supranational initiatives towards the recognition of perfusion as a profession in Europe, however so far without success for the majority of countries. For this reason, it remains essential for EBCP, as the only European professional perfusionist body, to define education standards and competencies for perfusionists and to monitor training by accreditation of dedicated perfusion schools across Europe.
ABSTRACT
The referral of patients for open heart surgery, presenting with a history of heparin hypersensitivity instigated a multidisciplinary effort to find an alternative anticoagulant to heparin. The various options mentioned in the literature call for changes in the routine practice of open heart surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass. These changes involve mostly the perfusion setup and conduct on bypass and to a lesser extent the anesthetic and surgical practice. Nevertheless, the different professions involved in the cardiac surgical firm discussed the proposed changes in a multidisciplinary effort. A new protocol was drafted, endorsed, and executed. The authors highlight these changes and their successful use in the subsequent case study.
Subject(s)
Algorithms , Cardiopulmonary Bypass/adverse effects , Cardiopulmonary Bypass/methods , Coronary Artery Disease/surgery , Hirudins/administration & dosage , Peptide Fragments/administration & dosage , Thromboembolism/etiology , Thromboembolism/prevention & control , Aged , Anticoagulants/administration & dosage , Combined Modality Therapy/methods , Coronary Artery Disease/complications , Drug Administration Schedule , Humans , Male , Recombinant Proteins/administration & dosage , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is limited data on the risk of developing diarrhoea in travelling patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We analysed the rate of developing diarrhoea among travellers suffering from IBD and their healthy controls. METHODS: We performed a retrospective case-controlled study among 78 patients with IBD and their healthy travelling companion controls, thus matching both groups to the same environmental conditions. Data was retrieved through a structured questionnaire, interview and clinical case notes review. RESULTS: Sixteen (20.5%) patients with IBD developed diarrhoea while abroad (p -0.0001) Statistical analysis using a χ2 test for independence (with Yates Continuity Correction). Prior to travelling, they were in clinical remission. Only one healthy control (1.3%) developed diarrhoea while abroad. In 11 patients (14.1%), the duration of diarrhoea was 3â days or less, and resolved on its own without antibiotics, any increase in their IBD medications and without a medical consultation. The other five patients had a flare-up of their disease and needed medications to put them back into remission. There was no statistically significant difference between patients having immunomodulator medications versus those having aminosalicylates only in developing diarrhoea when abroad. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with IBD have a higher rate of developing diarrhoea compared with controls when travelling. Thus, such patients must always seek a pretravel medical consultation.
