ECC is a situation of intense multidisciplinary collaboration in which good communication within the team is essential. The surgeon, perfusionist and anaesthetist must constantly exchange important information regarding surgical manoeuvres, haemodynamics and drug administration. A group of experienced and skilled practitioners, used to working together, achieves excellent performance through integrated teamwork. Clinical outcomes depend more on the quality of this teamwork than on the techniques used and individual prowess [1,2]. The anaesthetist has a crucial role, as he is strategically positioned to monitor the operating field, the anaesthesia machine, the echocardiograph and the ECC machine. The anaesthetist centralises information on fluid administration; participates in decisions about transfusion, haemodynamic management and weaning off bypass; and provides information from the transoesophageal echocardiogram.
© CHASSOT PG, GRONCHI F, April 2008, last update, December 2019
References
- MORDECAI MM, MURRAY MJ. The value of team wotk. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2006; 20:1-2
- WAHR JA, PRAGER RL, ABERNATHY JH, et al. Patient safety in the cardiac operating room: human factors and teamwork: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2013; 128:1139-69