Perfusion is a vital part of cardiac surgeries, but many people are still unaware of what perfusionists do and what their work entails. The science of perfusion dates back nearly 200 years and continues to develop today. As technological and medical innovation shape today’s OR, highly trained perfusionists are becoming a more valuable and in-demand part of cardiothoracic operations.
Perfusion is the passage of fluid through organs and tissues via the bloodstream. The heart perfuses the body’s organs with blood, providing vital nutrients and oxygenation. During cardiac surgeries, perfusion must be conducted by a heart-lung machine, which continues the blood-pumping function so surgeons can operate on the heart. Perfusionists operate the heart-lung machine to ensure that perfusion is uninterrupted during procedures.
At SpecialtyCare, perfusionists are known as the heart of the operation. That’s because they are literally keeping the patient alive by taking over the function of the heart during surgery. Perfusionists operate the heart-lung machine (or cardiopulmonary bypass machine) during cardiac surgeries. The duties of a perfusionist include: studying the patient’s history, monitoring his or her status during the operation, overseeing the machine’s function, administering any necessary medications during surgery, assisting the surgical team, and managing the use of other extracorporeal circulation equipment. Perfusion as a science continues to advance, and perfusionists must maintain proper training standards to keep up with their field and other cutting-edge shifts in the OR.
The use of perfusion in medical settings is a relatively new, historically speaking. Perfusion experiments began about two centuries ago, and promising developments have continued into the present day. Here are some interesting facts about the emergence and maturity of perfusion science:
SpecialtyCare is the industry leader in perfusion, performing 1 in 8 of all heart surgeries that take place in the country every year. We employ highly trained perfusionists to hospitals nationwide. Across our service lines, we support 13,500 physicians and participate in 400,000 procedures annually. We provide education and hands-on training for our perfusionists through our own university, which includes a fully-equipped simulation operating room. Our focus is on making surgery safer, and that involves partnering with hospitals around the country to provide them with greater resources, trained clinicians, and extensive research and data via our unique SCOPE™ database. To find out more about our perfusion services, get in touch with our team today. We would love to speak with you!
Paige B. and Jasmine M. Posing infront of machine – blue caps @ Novato Surgery…