What is a Perfusionist / Clinical Perfusion Scientist ?
During an open-heart operation, the departments’ heart-lung machine sustains the patient’s life by taking over the functions of the heart and lungs. This process is know as “cardiopulmonary bypass” Perfusionists, sometimes referred to as ‘heart lung technicians’, though now called ‘Clinical Perfusion Scientists’ in the UK, using a sterile technique, set up, and operate the heart-lung machine and other specialised equipment that are used in the operating theatre during the operation. Whist in theatre, and performing cardiopulmonary bypass, perfusionists, directed by the surgeon and anaesthetist, are responsible for regulating the patient’s levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide; for measuring selected laboratory values such as red blood cell count; and for monitoring the patients circulation. Perfusionists may also administer anaesthetic or other pharmaceutical agents through the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. Perfusionists, therefore undergo rigorous training both academically, and pract
