Development, implementation, and refinement of a comprehensive postcardiac arrest care training course in Japan

Aim In Japan, no training course is dedicated to postcardiac arrest care (PCAC), including venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA‐ECMO); thus, faculty members of the Japanese Circulation Society developed an original, comprehensive PCAC training course. This report reviews the development, implementation, and refinement of this PCAC training course. Methods We examined the preserved data from the Japanese Circulation Society PCAC training courses between 2014 and 2020. Data related to the learning content and number of the attendees and instructors were collected and summarized. Results Sixteen courses were held between August 2014 and February 2020, before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. A total of 677 health care providers participated: 351 doctors, 225 nurses, 62 perfusionists, five emergency medical professionals, and two pharmacists. Thirty‐two attendees’ data were missing. The core learning contents of all the courses included a standardized postcardiac arrest algorithm, targeted temperature management, VA‐ECMO cannulation skills, and postcannulation management. Concerning curriculum evolution, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation simulation, postarrest neurological examination and monitoring, and ultrasound‐guided Seldinger technique training were added in the 4th, 5th, and 13th courses, respectively. Conclusion The Japanese Circulation Society PCAC training course has been developed and refined to provide an organized, comprehensive opportunity for health care providers to acquire specific knowledge and skills in PCAC and VA‐ECMO.