Evaluation of university and training standards in clinical perfusion, an European-wide survey

André Giesbrecht; Christian Klüß; Gerdy Debeuckelaere; Maria Angeles Bruño; Folker Wenzel; Matthias Kohl; Filip De Somer; Adrian Bauer

doi:10.1093/icvts/ivae134

Evaluation of university and training standards in clinical perfusion, an European-wide survey

Interdiscip Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2024 Aug 1;39(2):ivae134. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivae134.

Authors

André Giesbrecht^{1

2

3}, Christian Klüß^{1

3}, Gerdy Debeuckelaere^{1

4}, Maria Angeles Bruño⁵, Folker Wenzel², Matthias Kohl², Filip De Somer^{1

6}, Adrian Bauer^{1

7}

Affiliations

¹ European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion, Brussels, Belgium.
² Faculty Medical and Life Sciences, Furtwangen, University of Applied Sciences, Campus Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany.
³ Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.
⁴ Department for Perfusion, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.
⁵ Department for Perfusion, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
⁶ Department for Perfusion, Heart Center, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
⁷ Department for Perfusion, Evangelic Heartcenter Coswig, Coswig, Germany.

Abstract

Objectives: Adequate theoretical and practical training of prospective clinical perfusionists is essential for maintaining clinical standards and ensuring patient safety during cardiac surgery procedures. Perfusion schools play a crucial role in establishing and maintaining higher education and training standards in clinical perfusion. The aim of this study is to obtain a comprehensive overview of European training standards in clinical perfusion in 2023.

Methods: For this study, 53 perfusion schools in Europe were found and contacted, of which 30 (56.6%) responded, giving a sample size of n = 30, which were then included in the data analysis. The quantitative data of the survey are analysed using descriptive methods.

Results: The university and training standards in clinical perfusion in Europe vary in many respects. Starting with the entry criterion for studies (most frequently a required bachelor's degree 36.7% or 2nd most common an university entrance qualification 30%), the duration [from <12 months (13.3%) up to 36 months (13.3%)] and regarding the content of the teaching in clinical perfusion [<30 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) (33.3%) and more than 180 ECTS (6.7%)]. The mean value for teaching in clinical perfusion content is 62.63 ECTS credits.

Conclusions: The obtained results show important differences between countries and schools. As such, they form a valuable database for future discussions establishing a common European curriculum and training standards for perfusionists. For the generalizability of the results, further evaluations and larger samples are needed.

Keywords: Cardiovascular perfusion; Clinical perfusionist; Education; European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion; European Credit Transfer System; Harmonized training standards.