[Survey on the training and organisation of cardiopulmonary bypass for cardiac surgery in France].
BACKGROUND
Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a medical act that can be performed by nurses as long as they are constantly supervised by a physician. No initial formalized training course is required. The personal responsibilities of nurses and physicians about CPB have not been defined.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was: to list perfusionists; to evaluate the training of perfusionists; to determine which physicians are considered as in charge during actions performed by paramedics, as well as their qualification; to point out the changes since 1997.


METHODS
Professional practice assessment.


METHODS
A questionnaire was sent to all perfusionists in activity in France.


RESULTS
There were 71% of replies. We found an aging of perfusionists (median 49 years vs. 40 years in 1997), a fall in the proportion of trained physicians (13% of perfusionists had a training course in adequacy with professional guidelines, 25% of perfusionists said they worked with a physician who could intervene at all time, and 61% declared only one physician was in charge). There is no CPB referent in 26% of perfusion units.


CONCLUSIONS
An urgent need appears to define the respective responsibilities of medical and paramedical perfusion staff, especially as this technique spreads out of the conventional cardiac surgery operating theatres.
Charrière
J-M
JM
Département d'anesthésie-réanimation, CHU La Milétrie, 2, rue de la Milétrie, BP 577, 86021 Poitiers cedex, France. j.m.charriere@chu-poitiers.fr
Darrieutort
H
H
de Riberolles
C
C
Alexandre
F
F
Lehot
J-J
JJ
Longrois
D
D
D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000458:organization & administration