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Physiological monitoring alarm settings should be appropriate for the specific procedure.¹³

A fluid warmer allowing the transfusion of warmed blood products and intravenous fluids should be available and should be used.¹⁴

A rapid infusion device should be available for the management of major haemorrhage.¹⁴

A cell salvage service should be available for patients in whom blood loss is anticipated and for those who decline blood products. Staff who operate this equipment should receive training and should use it frequently to maintain their skills.

A dedicated ultrasound machine should be present in each cardiac theatre for the placement of vascular catheters.¹⁵

Cardiac anaesthesia and surgery are carried out under intensive physiological patient monitoring. Equipment used routinely for monitoring during cardiac surgery should be available. This includes invasive pressure monitoring for both systemic arterial, central venous and pulmonary artery pressures.^10,15

Transoesophageal echocardiography should be immediately available^.16,17

Patients with complex conditions may require additional monitoring, such as pulmonary arterial pressure monitoring and measurement of cardiac output.¹⁰ Facilities for on-bypass haemofiltration should be available, which may include cytokine haemadsorption filters in patients with higher inflammatory burden.

Noninvasive cerebral monitoring should include depth of anaesthesia monitors and cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy.¹⁰

Monitoring during cardiopulmonary bypass should conform to the standards recommended by the joint working group of the Society of Clinical Perfusion Scientists of Great Britain and Ireland, ACTACC, the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland, and the European Guidelines on Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Adult Cardiac Surgery.^7,18