Extracorporeal life support experiences of a new congenital heart center in Turkey.

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) provides mechanical support following cardiac surgery when respiratory and cardiac failure occurs. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients who needed ECLS at a new congenital heart center in Turkey. Between December 2009 and February 2012, 616 congenital heart operations were performed.

Perfusion practices and education of perfusionists for open heart surgery in Turkey--current practices and future suggestions.

Our objective is to compare our current findings with the findings of our former study in 2004 and to make new suggestions for the development of cardiovascular perfusion in Turkey according to the results of the survey in 2011.