ASA PeRLS vs. ACLS
Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) is a certification for healthcare professionals that indicates competence to provide resuscitation support in health emergencies. It is a common requirement for physicians and nurses, including anesthesiologists. Perioperative resuscitation and life support (PeRLS) is a similar certification that is targeted ACLS-alternative training for perioperative settings and has been endorsed by the American Society of Anesthesiologists 1. PeRLS presents relevant information to peri-procedural providers about causes of arrest and different ways to treat them that are specifically targeted to the peri-procedural period. This information takes into consideration a deep knowledge of the patient, advanced airway management strategy, and the availability of resources.
Compared to traditional ACLS training programs, PeRLS has a number of benefits 2. First, it offers highly relevant ACLS training very specifically targeted to anesthesiologists and the perioperative care team. Completion of the curriculum earns a certificate that some hospital credentialing bodies accept as evidence of proficiency in ACLS. Participants earn a digital PeRLS Certificate badge and subsequent Maintenance of Expertise badges annually to recognize and validate their competency in ACLS in the perioperative setting.
PeRLS education is focused primarily on keeping patients safe and preventing a cardiac crisis. Training is focused on a range of targeted topics, including rescue, unique presentations, and special situations.
The PeRLS course is web-based, and the program reinforces learning with the weekly delivery of questions over the course of 12 months. This Maintenance of Expertise module aims to help participants to keep current on ACLS knowledge.
The course contains 5 modules covering pre-arrest and the concept of rescue, pre-cardiac arrest in the operating room, arrhythmias, conditions complicating arrest in the operating room, and special situations (including but not limited to anaphylaxis, gas embolism, transfusion reactions, hyperkalemia, traumatic cardiac arrest, local anesthetic systemic toxicity, malignant hyperthermia, and neuraxial anesthesia). It was developed by the American Society of Anesthesiologists Editorial Board for Perioperative Life Support (PeRLS), members of the Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists (SOCCA), and the American Society of Anesthesiologists Critical Care Committee. The 20-member board includes experts in critical care medicine and medical education at renowned American, European, Canadian, and Israeli academic institutions 2.
An increasing number of anesthesiologists and groups are using PeRLS as their preferred resuscitation training program given that it is targeted to what they do in the perioperative and periprocedural settings 3. That being said, anesthesiologists should check what their specific requirements are before considering a switch to PeRLS from ACLS.
References
1. Moitra, V. K., Gabrielli, A., MacCioli, G. A. & O’Connor, M. F. Anesthesia advanced circulatory life support. Can. J. Anesth. (2012). doi:10.1007/s12630-012-9699-3
2. PeRLS: Perioperative Resuscitation and Life Support Certificate FAQs. Available at: https://www.asahq.org/education-and-career/educational-and-cme-offerings/perls/perls-faq. (Accessed: 9th December 2023)
3. PeRLS of Wisdom: The Evolution of ASA’s Perioperative Resuscitation and Life Support Certificate – Q&A with Dr. Michael O’Connor | Anesthesia Experts. Available at: https://anesthesiaexperts.com/uncategorized/perls-wisdom-evolution-asas-perioperative-resuscitation-life-support-certificate-qa-dr-michael-oconnor/. (Accessed: 9th December 2023)