This session will examine the role of the ELSA Meter in ECMO patient management, including how access to timely, relevant information may help the clinical team evaluate support, guide decision-making, and better understand the patient’s condition throughout the course of ECMO. Our presenters will discuss the practical value of incorporating the ELSA Meter into ECMO care and why it may be an important resource for perfusionists, ECMO specialists, physicians, nurses, and other members of the extracorporeal life support team. PerfWeb 113: Day Two Topic • The ELSA Meter: Why Every Patient on ECMO Should Have This Tool Available Join us for this focused educational presentation and clinical discussion on advancing ECMO monitoring and patient care. This program is intended for educational purposes and does not replace institutional protocols, clinical judgment, or individualized patient care.

We begin with ECMO Cannulation Circuits, exploring important considerations related to circuit configuration, cannulation strategies, and the practical factors that influence ECMO support. Next, Weaning ECMO: What Should Be Done and What Should Not Be Done, a practical discussion examining the assessment, planning, and common pitfalls involved in determining when and how a patient may be safely weaned from ECMO support. PerfWeb 113: Day One Topics • ECMO Cannulation Circuits • Perfusion in Jeopardy • Weaning ECMO: What Should Be Done and What Should Not Be Done. We conclude with Perfusion in Jeopardy, our interactive game show featuring questions covering a wide range of general perfusion topics. Play along, challenge your clinical knowledge, and see how well you would perform against our contestants.

Day 2 of PerfWeb 112, we explore important topics in modern perfusion practice and cardiovascular care. This educational session features expert-led presentations focused on evidence-based strategies, patient management, and clinical outcomes in complex cardiac and ECMO environments. Topics include: • Goal-Directed Perfusion and patient-centered perfusion strategies • Physiological Manifestations of Fluid Overload and ECMO Management • Albumin in Cardiac Surgery: Evidence and Clinical Outcomes • Clinical insights, case discussions, and expert perspectives • Live audience interaction and Q&A This program is designed for perfusionists, ECMO specialists, students, nurses, and members of the cardiovascular care team seeking current educational content and practical clinical applications.

Join us live for Day 1 of PerfWeb 112 as we explore key topics shaping modern perfusion practice, including Normothermic Regional Perfusion (NRP) concepts, Transfusion strategies, and Ultrafiltration techniques. This session brings together clinical insight, practical discussion, and real-world experience to improve patient care and advance perfusion knowledge. Whether you are a practicing perfusionist, student, ECMO specialist, or part of the cardiovascular team, this program offers valuable educational content from experienced professionals in the field. Topics include: • NRP • Blood transfusion management and current practices • Ultrafiltration techniques and clinical applications • Case-based discussion and expert perspectives.

This podcast clarifies the perfusion umbrella while aligning practitioners' skills with surgeons' demands, offering evidence-based strategies for role optimization. Perfusionists acquire methods to enhance technical execution and team integration, directly contributing to procedural success. This focused discussion delivers applicable value, supporting sustained competence in evolving cardiac care environments. This podcast guest is Vivek Patel, MD. He is a cardiothoracic surgeon at Baylor College of Medicine and works at St. Luke's Health-The Woodlands Hospital.

The session starts with a comprehensive review of modalities under the perfusion umbrella, categorizing services ranging from routine cardiopulmonary bypass to specialized support such as venoarterial ECMO for cardiogenic shock or isolated limb perfusion. Speakers discuss regulatory definitions from bodies such as the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP), emphasizing that these modalities extend beyond the operating room into critical care. Transitioning to surgeon perspectives, the discussion examines qualities valued in perfusionists, such as precise flow management, rapid response to hemodynamic changes, and proactive circuit adjustments. Real-world examples illustrate mismatches between perfusionists' actions and surgeons' expectations, highlighting areas such as air-handling protocols and temperature control during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. The program then integrates these topics, offering frameworks for perfusionists to self-assess and adapt. Case-based scenarios demonstrate how understanding surgeon preferences enhances outcomes in complex repairs, with emphasis on documentation and post-procedure debriefs to foster continuous improvement.

PerfWeb 111 Day 1 assesses the potential effects of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) payment policies on perfusionist compensation within hospital systems. This session examines how annual updates to inpatient prospective payment systems and quality-based adjustments constrain hospital budgets, indirectly shaping salary structures and staffing models for cardiovascular perfusion teams. For perfusion leaders, it provides a framework for anticipating fiscal shifts and advocating for sustainable compensation in an era of value-based care. Learning Objectives: Explain the mechanisms of CMS hospital payment systems, including diagnostic-related groups (DRGs) relevant to cardiac procedures. Identify key changes in recent CMS rules that impact reimbursement for perfusion-supported surgeries like coronary artery bypass grafting. Evaluate how hospital revenue pressures from CMS adjustments affect perfusion department budgets and compensation packages. Differentiate between direct and indirect influences of CMS policies on perfusionist salaries, benefits, and on-call stipends. Apply strategies for perfusion services to demonstrate value through cost-efficiency metrics and quality outcomes. Assess negotiation tactics for perfusion contracts in light of hospital fiscal constraints driven by CMS. Develop a plan to monitor upcoming CMS proposals and adapt perfusion practice models accordingly.

PerfWeb 110 – Day 2 examines clinical indications for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and available cannulation options, focusing on evidence-based criteria for initiation in adult patients with refractory cardiac or respiratory failure. This session addresses decision-making in high-acuity scenarios where standard therapies fail, providing perfusionists with tools to assess suitability and select appropriate access strategies. By clarifying when ECMO offers benefit versus risk, the content supports safer implementation in programs managing acute decompensations. Learning Objectives: Identify key clinical conditions, such as severe ARDS or cardiogenic shock, where ECMO provides effective temporary support. Differentiate between venoarterial (VA) and venovenous (VV) ECMO configurations based on underlying pathophysiology. Evaluate patient-specific factors influencing ECMO candidacy, including contraindications and prognostic indicators. Describe common cannulation sites and techniques, including peripheral versus central approaches. Apply strategies to mitigate cannulation-related complications like limb ischemia or recirculation. Interpret hemodynamic and gas exchange parameters to guide initial ECMO setup and adjustments.

PerfWeb 110 – Day 1 focuses on professionalism in managing large perfusion practices and training centers, addressing the unique challenges of high-volume cardiovascular care operations. Speakers examine ethical principles, administrative efficiencies, and educational frameworks that ensure consistent patient safety and team performance amid expanding service lines like extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and complex cardiac surgeries. For perfusion leaders, this content provides tools to align daily operations with professional standards, reducing risks from scaling while promoting long-term program viability. Learning Objectives Define core elements of professionalism in perfusion, including ethical conduct and accountability in high-stakes clinical environments Identify strategies for scaling perfusion services to support increased case volumes without compromising quality or safety Develop protocols for integrating training programs into large practice operations to maintain staff competency Evaluate leadership approaches for managing multidisciplinary teams in busy perfusion centers Apply administrative best practices to handle regulatory compliance, resource allocation, and conflict resolution Assess metrics for measuring professional performance and program success in large-scale perfusion settings

PerfWeb 109 – Day 2 features Joe Basha and Becky Bolkovac in a practical, honest conversation about what perfusion can be: a job, a vocation, a hobby, or a career—and how the way you frame your work impacts burnout, satisfaction, professionalism, and patient care.

They break down the definitions, discuss real-world pressures like workload and call coverage, and explore why team culture and leadership matter—especially in high-stakes environments where the patient must always come first.