Laura Ronayne (ECLS Clinical Nurse Consultant), Dr. Patrick Joyce and Dr. Natalie Apelbaum had the opportunity to represent the Alfred ICU and collaborate with American colleagues at the Reanimate conference in San Diego, USA (13-14 November 2023). They joined the conference as members of the Reanimate faculty.
Reanimate is a 2-day ECMO conference that provides education on extra-corporeal membranous oxygenation and ECMO-CPR. The Reanimate team have mastered education in a supportive simulation space, with self-constructed world-leading simulation models and a positive learning environment.
At the conference, trainees were provided the opportunity to be involved in didactic and simulated education including:
There were discussions on Advanced ECMO management with a focus on immediate, short-term, and long-term considerations that support the entire ECMO journey from cannulation to decannulation. Complex ECMO complications including differential hypoxia, circuit thrombus, circuit integrity and mechanical failure were also discussed.
As part of the Reanimate faculty, our representatives had the privilege of teaching and supporting simulation, guiding trainees through the process of cannulation and ECMO related scenarios. They all agree that it was an invaluable experience to meet and collaborate with their American ECMO colleagues, strengthening well-formed relationships and sharing differences in clinical practice. In doing so, they learned various techniques and strategies to support local practice and education.
They said, “it was a privilege to be included in this conference. We are grateful to Dr. Josh Ihle, the Alfred ICU/ECMO team and the Reanimate Team for supporting and continuing this initiative. It was an invaluable experience overall.”
