NRP Quick Reference Guide

NRP Pump-Side Quick Reference Tom Ferry, BS, CCP — Central Coast Perfusion LLC

The field guide built for the perfusionist running the circuit — not the one writing the protocol.

NRP cases move fast. Lactate not clearing. MAP dropping. Surgeon asking questions. Three things happening at once — and the last thing you need is to be searching your memory for a threshold you reviewed six months ago in a module.

This 7-page clinical reference puts every decision point in front of you before the case starts.

What's inside:

Target perfusion parameters — Flow index, MAP, temperature, hematocrit, gas exchange targets, anticoagulation, electrolytes, and glucose. Color-coded for immediate recognition.

Lactate clearance interpretation — A visual clearance curve with three clinical patterns: favorable, borderline, and non-clearance. Includes a troubleshooting table for every lactate scenario you'll encounter at the pump.

Drug protocol — Every drug you'll need, with dose, route, and the specific trigger for using it. UFH, vasopressors, CaCl₂, NaHCO₃, PGE₁, mannitol, furosemide, and more.

Blood gas-driven management algorithm — What to do for every out-of-range value, without having to think through it mid-case.

Alarm thresholds and responses — Tiered CRITICAL / URGENT / MONITOR classification with immediate action for each. Air embolism, pump failure, cannula dislodgement, and refractory collapse response protocols included.

Pre-perfusion setup checklist — 14-item verification checklist. Print it. Work through it before every case.

Termination sequence — Step-by-step NRP termination protocol with documentation requirements.

Format: 7-page PDF. Designed for print. Laminate it and keep it at the pump.

Companion to: The NRP Black Book 2026 — the complete operational reference for NRP program development and bedside management.

Clinical decision-support aid. Does not supersede institutional protocols, OPO policies, or surgeon directives.

$29 — instant download