cardiac surgical advanced life support course

 Dr Anand Sachithanandan (right) teaching National Heart Institute critical-care nurses on performing emergency chest re-opening

KOTA KINABALU: Thirty health personnel from mostly Malaysia, Korea, and Thailand were among the first to learn cardiac surgical advanced life support course that was held here yesterday.
  The one-day course first held in Asia, is originated in UK and its teachings forms the basis for the current resuscitation guidelines of the prestigious European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgeons (EACTS).
  Course director Dr Anand Sachithanandan said the programme was mainly targetting non-surgeons personnel such as anesthetists, critical care nurses and medical assistants.
  "These people could save patients' lives when surgeons are busy operating at next-door room.
  "By abiding the course's protocol, those well-trained are able to swiftly perform emergency resuscitation including reopen the operated heart,' he told New Straits Times.
   Dr Anand assured that  the course proved to have 80 per cent success rate, which is better than current application based on general resuscitation guidelines.
  "This knowledge is crucial as 1 to 3 per cent of cardiac patients usually develop post-surgery complications," he added.
   Dr Anand, who is also a cardiac surgeon consultant, said the protocol involved a team consists of team leader, Intensive Care Unit coordinator, and others responsible for external cardiac massage, airway and breathing, defibrillation and drugs.
  The course was also organised in conjunction with the four-day annual scientific meeting of the Association of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons of Asia (ATCSA) beginning today.
  -Ends-