On July 17, 2015, I was in charge of ECPR simulation on APELSO conference 2015 in Kyoto, Japan. The LIVE video shooting was simultaneously displayed on the big screen of the other conference room.
In that conference room, several big figures of ECMO in the world were watching and evaluating the simulation.
Total number of participants of this sim was 10, and they came from China, Taiwan, Australia, Thailand, Japan so forth.
Some of them are already well-experienced and very knowledgeable about ECMO such as Cardiothoracic surgeon, Intensivist, Cardiologist, Perfusionist etc.
Planned Agenda was as follows;
1. Introduction and Briefing 15min
2. SAVE-J and Case Presentation 5min
3. Explanation of today’s ECMO device Priming of ECMO circuit 15min
4. Preparation of cannulas 10min
5. Percutaneous cannulation with water circuit during conventional CPR 15min
6. Tubing and initiation of ECMO circuit 5min
7. Post cardiac arrest assessment and intervention 10min
8. ICU management; Dealing with complications and Getting through weaning 35min
9. Discontinuation of ECMO and decannulation 10min
Before simulation I assigned their each rolls according to the following figure ” Sample of ECPR Code Team”. This time chest compressions were done by mechanical compression device called LUCAS2.
They did very well collaboratively and put the patient on ECMO quickly.
Most of them seemed to be interested in the method to provide practical education about ECMO. So they were very curious about my original water circuit.
Since the guy who played as a code team leader was so knowledgeable, and some of them were also good ECMO practitioners, they tended to discuss about each topics much more deeply.
Even though these discussions were important, it sometimes took longer than I expected. I couldn’t handle this situation skillfully because of my intermediate level of English.
Anyway this is a deep and powerful experience for me and perhaps for them.
For the next opportunity, I want to elevate my facilitation skill in English.