Thank you very much for your comments and insightful questions. Since we implemented the simulation training, which we complete twice a year, we have not had to perform an emergent resternotomy in the intensive care unit (ICU). Having said that, the 2017 Society of Thoracic Surgeons postcardiac surgery arrest protocol has been a part of the simulation training, and we have seen that all staff follow this specialized cardiopulmonary rescucitation protocol when needed (which is more often than having to perform a resternotomy). This situation was certainly not the case before we implemented our simulation training, when most ICU staff would follow the traditional Advanced Cardiac Life Support protocol. There is definitely a sense of comfort among our nursing staff and advanced practice providers with both postcardiac surgery cardiac arrest resuscitation and being prepared to perform a sternotomy in the ICU. The didactic slides, followed immediately by simulation scenarios...

You do not currently have access to this content.