Fellowship Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS)
Intensivmedizinisches Fellowship im Bereich kardialer Kurz- und Langzeitunterstützungssysteme
For years, mechanical circulatory support systems have played an important role in the treatment of severe heart failure. New developments in technological implementation have led to an increase in the use and application of short-term support systems. For patients in cardiogenic shock and in refractory circulatory arrest, they often represent an indispensable treatment option to bridge the gap until causal therapy is available, or to stabilise patients and prepare them for permanent mechanical support or heart transplantation.
At the Department of Cardiac Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine and the Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine at Campus Benjamin Franklin, more than 350 patients with acute decompensated heart failure due to a wide range of causes are treated each year with all modalities of mechanical circulatory support (MCS).
In cardiology, one focus of clinical and preclinical MCS therapy is acute myocardial infarction. In cardiosurgery, MCS is routinely used in patients with chronic ischaemic or dilated cardiomyopathy, as well as after surgical procedures, as a bridging option until recovery, implantation of a long-term support system or transplantation.
Advantages of the fellowship
The two-year fellowship enables medical specialists to specialise in the field of MCS. The fellowship gives you the opportunity to
- gain the skills, theoretical knowledge and practical experience in MCS therapy through a structured training programme, enabling you to provide intensive care independently and autonomously to patients with short- and long-term support systems,
- learn transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography with a focus on MCS, including the relevant certifications (EACVI/EACTA, DEGUM, DGAI, DGK), and also gain proven expertise in perioperative and periinterventional echocardiography,
- work in an interdisciplinary team with a flat hierarchy,
- be involved in the clinical routine of the intensive care units and the operating theatre from the outset,
- work at a state-of-the-art hospital with an excellent infrastructure,
- work at one of the world's leading heart centres with a supra-regional function,
- the opportunity for academic work and the explicit support of participation in research projects and publications in the field of mechanical cardiovascular support.
- Specialist in internal medicine/cardiology, anaesthesiology or cardiac surgery
- Additional qualification in intensive care medicine or international equivalent
- 6 months of previous experience in cardiological or cardiac surgical intensive care medicine or cardioanaesthesiology in full-time employment
- German as mother tongue or knowledge at C1 level
- Knowledge of English at B2 level
There is the possibility of a modular combination with the fellowship ‘Adult Cardioanaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine’ at the Department of Cardiac Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine.
The fellowship is designed as ‘on-the-job’ training. Supplemented by curricular teaching units, the relevant training content is taught in a clinical context. The work is full-time. The salary is based on the collective agreement for specialist physicians (A2). After adequate training, the intention is to work shifts with the support of the senior physicians in the Departments.
During the fellowship, the peculiarities of cardiovascular and cardiac surgical intensive care are also taught.
At the beginning of the training, and based on the fellow's previous experience, induction training is provided in the intensive care unit, with a focus on haemodynamic monitoring and the recognition and treatment of typical cardiovascular intensive care conditions. The techniques and procedures of advanced haemodynamic monitoring and management of patients with terminal heart failure, cardiogenic shock or post-resuscitation patients are a central part of the training, which runs like a red thread through the entire fellowship. From the outset, the fellow is involved in the instrumentation, application and interpretation of these measures in the day-to-day work of intensive care, surgery and interventional cardiology, learning them in a didactically sound and constantly supervised environment.
Initially, the Fellow will learn about the specifics of treatment for certain conditions (including postoperative low cardiac output syndrome, cardiogenic shock, ARDS, eCPR) in addition to routine post-interventional or postoperative care after elective cardiovascular procedures, and will be able to apply and implement these independently during the course of the training. Subsequently, the focus will be on the special features of specific surgical and intensive care procedures (transplantation, LVAD, ECLS) as part of further qualification. In addition, the Fellow will be taught the basics of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography by participating in the TTE and TEE basic course, training on the ultrasound simulator and bedside teaching. In addition, the Fellow will be actively involved in the alarm structure for ECLS implantations.
After appropriate training, the Fellow is expected to supervise and instruct physicians in training. The continuous availability of an experienced intensivist in the sense of a senior physician on-call service for intensive care medicine is guaranteed.
The academic curriculum is covered by regular internal training events, echo reviews, cross-departmental case conferences and one-on-one teaching in clinical practice. During the two-year training programme, the fellow will be given the opportunity to actively and passively participate in scientific conferences on cardiovascular topics. Participation in scientific studies, quality management projects, publication of case reports, collaboration in the creation and maintenance of internal treatment guidelines (SOPs) and other academic projects are explicitly encouraged and supported.
Start dates are arranged individually. Please feel free to contact us by email at mcs-fellowship@dhzc-charite.de for further information.
At the beginning of the fellowship, there will be an in-depth induction at both locations, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Benjamin Franklin. During this time, the fellow will always be deployed in addition to the existing core team. After the induction phase, sequential assignments will be carried out at the two locations, each with their own specific focus. The order can be determined individually.
Induction at the Campus Virchow-Klinikum location (CVK) | |
| Zeitraum | Inhalt / Station |
| Woche 1-2 | Einarbeitung (Standort CVK, Ansprechpartner:in, Geräteeinweisungen, Administrativa) |
| Woche 3-6 | 4 Wochen – Echokardiografie (Schwerpunkt TEE) |
| Woche 7-8 | Kardioanästhesiologie, Intraoperative Echokardiografie, Implantation tMCS und pMCS im OP, |
Induction at theCampus Benjamin Franklin (CBF) | |
| Zeitraum | Inhalt/Station |
| Woche 9-10 | Einarbeitung (Standorte, Ansprechpartner:in, Geräteeinweisungen, Administrativa) |
| Woche 11-14 | 3 Wochen – Echokardiografie (Schwerpunkt TTE) |
| Woche 15-16 | Herzkatheter (Einblick in diagnostische und interventionelle Verfahren), eCPR |
| Period | Contents/Station |
| 5. – 14. Month | Cardiosurgical intensive care The role of MCS in the perioperative phase On call ECLS / tMCS implantation Postoperative care of patients with pMCS Trouble shooting tMCS and pMCS Management of coagulation and transfusion therapy MCS in transplantation medicine Ethics in intensive care and transplantation medicine |
pMCS – permanent MCS, tMCS – temporary MCS
| Period | Content/Station |
| 15. – 24. Monat | Cardiological intensive care Conservative management CS Differentiated catecholamine therapy CS Indications MCS Post CPR / eCPR – ECLS management Combination of different MCS On call ECLS / tMCS implantation Weaning MCS Trouble shooting MCS Management of coagulation and transfusion therapy and management of platelet aggregation inhibition Ethics in intensive care, end-of-life decision making with MCS |
CS – cardiogenic shock; tMCS – temporary MC
Structured seminar programme
In addition to the numerous in-house training courses at both locations, the fellowship is accompanied by a seminar programme covering the specific topics of mechanical circulatory support in detail.
Faculty
| Fellowship Direktor | Dr. Sascha Ott |
| Stellv. Fellowship Direktor | Dr. Georg Girke |
| Leitung Kardiologie | Prof. Carsten Skurk |
| Leitung Herzchirurgie | Prof. Evgenij Potapov |
| Leitung Anästhesiologie | N.N. |
| Direktor, Klinik für Kardiologie, Angiologie und Intensivmedizin CBF | Prof. Dr. Ulf Landmesser |
| Direktor, Klinik für Herz-, Thorax-, Gefäßchirurgie | Prof. Dr. Volkmar Falk |
| Direktor, Klinik für Kardioanästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin | Prof. Dr. Benjamin O‘Brien |
| Fellowship Faculty/Trainer | Oberärzt:innen der Kliniken |
All of the clinic's senior physicians are highly experienced specialists in cardiology, anaesthesiology or cardiac surgery in the field of mechanical circulatory support. At least one member of the fellowship faculty is available 24/7. The fellowship directors devote a significant portion of their clinical and non-clinical activities to the practical and theoretical training of the fellows, as well as to the maintenance and further development of the fellowship programme.
