Final answer:
Before starting a normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, a medical safety checklist must be completed, which includes antibiotic administration, patient and procedure verification, as well as a team time-out to address any concerns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The minimum action that should be taken before initiating normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass is the performance of a comprehensive medical safety checklist. This checklist is essential to ensure patient safety and optimal outcomes and includes confirming the administration of prophylactic antibiotics within 60 minutes before making an incision, verifying the patient's identity, and ensuring that all essential imaging results for the correct patient are displayed in the operating room. Additionally, a time-out is observed by the surgical team to confirm the correct patient, procedure, and site, and discuss any key concerns for the patient's recovery and care post-operation. This approach, reminiscent of safety checklists used by pilots, helps to ensure all team members agree and prepare for the surgery, reducing the potential for errors.