Physicians updated on cardiac life-support techniques

King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah and Life Support Training Center-Postgraduate Education and Academic Affairs held a two-day course on advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) from Jan. 29-30 at the Deanship Building of King Saud bin Abdul Aziz University-Health Science (KSAU-HS) in Jeddah.
The course was mandatory for all cardiac physicians in the city. Several doctors and nurses from the ICU (Intensive Care Unit), CCU (Coronary Care Unit), and Emergency room also attended the course led by Dr. Abdulhalim Kinsara, the course director. The course provided the participants with the latest information and protocols for Acute Cardiac Care and Advanced Life Support in accordance with the standards and guidelines of the American Heart Association.
ACLS courses are designed to enhance the health care professional’s ability to treat and manage (as a team) adult patients during cardiac arrest, direct team members during resuscitation and manage the patient in the immediate post-resuscitation phase.
Kinsara said that the course dwelt on advanced life support techniques and imparted knowledge on chest compression in case of cardiac arrests.
The course is conducted in accordance with the Saudi Heart Association and American Heart Association curriculum. As explained by Kinsara, this curriculum is one of the most comprehensive courses available worldwide and provides hands-on training.
Similar courses on how to deal with cardiac arrest are also available for the general public. The curriculum programs are updated every three years.
On completion of the course, participants will be able to demonstrate airway management and resuscitation skills. Kinsara said that the same course has been scheduled for the whole year. “This will be a routine in the future and will go a long way in saving precious lives,” he added.
Any doctor or hospital wishing to participate in future courses can get technical help from Life Support Training Center (LSTC) members.