Cardiac Surgery Safety Protocol Template

1. Pre-Operative Safety Measures

Patient Verification

• Confirm patient identity using two identifiers
• Verify surgical site marking
• Review consent forms and documentation
• Confirm NPO status

Equipment Check

• Heart-lung machine verification
• Emergency backup systems testing
• Blood products availability confirmation
• Temperature management systems check

2. Operating Room Setup

Sterile Field Preparation

• Double-gloving protocol
• Proper surgical attire requirements
• Specialized cardiac instruments verification
• Emergency medication tray setup

Monitoring Equipment

• TEE equipment setup
• Arterial line placement verification
• Central venous access confirmation
• Continuous ECG monitoring setup

3. Intraoperative Safety Measures

Critical Steps Verification

• Time-out procedure completion
• Anticoagulation protocol adherence
• Blood gas monitoring schedule
• Perfusion parameters documentation

Emergency Protocols

• Cardiac arrest response plan
• Massive transfusion protocol
• Malignant hyperthermia response
• Equipment failure backup procedures

4. Post-Operative Safety

Transfer Protocol

• ICU handoff checklist
• Vital signs documentation requirements
• Drainage systems management
• Post-op medication reconciliation

Documentation Requirements

• Surgical safety checklist completion
• Operative report elements
• Critical events documentation
• Quality metrics recording

5. Quality Assurance

Audit Procedures

• Monthly safety protocol review
• Incident reporting system
• Team feedback mechanisms
• Compliance monitoring schedule

6. Staff Training Requirements

Mandatory Certifications

• BLS/ACLS currency
• Perfusion certification verification
• Equipment competency documentation
• Annual safety training completion