Perfusionists

By: Arya Jethwa

Imagine your heart stopping for several hours while doctors operate on it. During that time your heart still needs oxygen and your brain still needs blood flow. That's where a Perfusionist steps in. Perfusionists are highly trained who keep patients alive during complicated surgeries by operating the heart-lung machine.

Perfusion is the science of circulating blood and oxygen throughout the body. When surgeons perform open-heart surgery they sometimes need to stop the heart from pumping blood to keep the patient safe. Perfusionists run the heart-lung machine which takes over the job of the heart and lung for some time. This means that the blood keeps flowing, oxygen is delivered to the blood, and carbon dioxide is removed from the blood all while the heart is stopped.

Most people haven't heard of perfusionists, but their role is essential in modern medicine. Without them certain procedures like open heart surgery, certain organ transplantations, and pediatric heart repairs would not be possible. According to the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion there are only a few thousand certified perfusionsists in the United States, making it one of the most specialized healthcare careers.

A perfusionist's work is both technical and high pressure. They carefully calculate how much blood flow and oxygen a patient needs and constantly adjust the machine during the procedure. They also administer medication that prevents blood clots and regulates blood pressure. Even a small error can have life threatening consequences, which is why their training is so extensive.

Becoming a perfusionist requires extensive education and specialized training. Most perfusionists begin with a bachelor's degree in biology, physiology, or a related field. After that they must complete an accredited perfusionist program. This training typically takes about 2 years to complete.These programs combine classroom instruction with hands-on clinical training, where students learn to operate heart-lung machines and care for patients in real surgical settings.

After completing training graduates must pass certification exams through the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP). To maintain certification, perfusionists are also required to complete continuing education and demonstrate ongoing clinical competence. Because this field is so specialized, programs are limited which makes getting accepted extremely competitive.  However the demand for perfusionsists is extremely high and this makes it a rewarding career path for those who are passionate about healthcare and willing to put in the work. 

The impact of perfusionists goes far beyond the operating room. Their work allows for patients to recover from heart diseases, receive life saving transplants, and treat birth defects in the heart. For families, this means more time with their loved ones. For patients this means a second chance at life.

Works Cited

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science. “Cardiovascular Perfusionist.” Mayo.edu, 2016, college.mayo.edu/academics/explore-health-care-careers/careers-a-z/cardiovascular-perfusionist/

“Perfusionist.” Wikipedia, 20 Jan. 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfusionist

“What Is a Perfusionist? | McGovern Medical School.” Med.uth.edu, med.uth.edu/perfusion/about-us/what-is-a-perfusionist/

“Perfusion Schools.” Perfusion.com, perfusion.com/perfusion-schools/.

“Facts about Perfusionists.” Surgery | U of U School of Medicine, 4 Oct. 2021, medicine.utah.edu/surgery/cardiothoracic/perfusion-studies/about

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“What Is a Perfusionist?” Texas Heart Institute, www.texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-center/topics/what-is-a-perfusionist/.