Skills Lab
The Skills Lab at the Houston Shock Symposium offers hands-on training on all aspects of mechanical circulatory support device therapies.
For the 2023 Houston Shock Symposium, we are proud to offer the following focus areas in the Skills Lab:
Station 1: Impella
- Setup of Impella/RPella pump (connection/single fluid line flushing, initial console management and range support, troubleshooting, etc.)
- Software (real-time pump metrics, LVP and CPO on AIC, review of SmartAssist sensor capabilities, Impella Connect app and management)
- Abiomed futures (14FR CP sheath, IJ RP device, ECP, BTR) – by appointment only and in a separate location
Station 2: Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps
- IABP connection (conventional and fiberoptic) and setup, troubleshooting, etc.
- IABP console features and adjustments
- ECMO cannulation and connection
- CardioHelp console operation, adjustments and troubleshooting
Station 3: TandemLife and TandemLung
- TandemLife VA ECLS priming tray setup
- TandemLung VV ECLS connection (+/- wet-priming)
- LifeSparc pump operation and troubleshooting
- Hands-on Protek Duo and TandemHeart LS (LA-FA) cannulae
- Transseptal simulator
Station 4: Large Bore Access
- Operation and handling of a linear US probe
- Identification of femoral vessels and optimal puncture site
Station 5: ICE + Transseptal Puncture
- Operation and image acquisition using ICE
- Identification of septum and optimal puncture site
- Safe transseptal puncture with NRG Baylis needle
Station 6: Large Bore Access Closure (Manta and Proglide)
- Identification of optimal vessel size/depth/puncture site
- Assembly and deployment of Manta device
- Assembly and deployment of Prostar device
- Flushing and deployment of Proglide device
Station 7: ECMO Cannulation and Initiation
- Operation and handling of a linear US probe
- Identification of femoral vessels and optimal puncture site
- Serial dilation and cannulation of femoral vessels for access
- ECMO initiation
- Troubleshooting access issues
Station 8: Bovine Heart Coring for LVAD Placement
- Identification of major anatomical structures
- Coring of LV apex with current coring device for optimal LVAD placement
- Suturing of sewing ring
The Skills Lab Team
Interventional
- Sandeep Nathan, MD, Associate Professor, UChicago Medicine
- Sachin Kumar, MD, Associate Professor, Interventional Cardiology, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Ismael Salas de Armas, MD, Associate Professor, Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
- Mehmet Akay, MD, Associate Professor, Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
- Juan Marcano, MD, Assistant Professor, Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
- Jayeshkumar Patel, MD, Assistant Professor, Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
- Manish Patel, MD, Associate Professor, Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
Electrophysiology
- Saumya Sharma, MD, Associate Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
Perfusion
- Lisa Janowiak, LifeFlight/Cardiogenic Shock Center Coordinator, Cardiovascular Perfusion Program, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
- Kayla Kutilek, MPS, Perfusionist, Cardiovascular Perfusion Program, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston