Cardiovascular Perfusionist

Overview

• 1.
• The primary duty of a Cardiovascular Perfusionist - Senior Cardiovascular Perfusionist is the operations of the
• Heart-Lung machine and provides cardiovascular perfusion for a patient cardiac or non-cardiac surgery.
• 2.
• Reviews patient s medical history such as pathological stage and infections, type of surgery planned for
• conditions and diagnosis.
• 3.
• Follows priming protocols for adults, pediatrics and infants.
• Priming the circuit with fluids as per protocol or
• in consultation with surgeon/anesthetist for any special care.
• 4.
• Uses of drugs in priming solutions as per protocol for adults pediatric and infants.
• Addition of other drugs
• and their doses only on the advice of the anesthetist.
• 5.
• Assembles and prepares additional equipment as per the requirement of the surgery or patient care, before,
• after, during or after bypasses namely IABP etc.
• 6.
• Ensures what disposables to be used depending on adult, pediatric, or infant patients, keeping in mind cost
• containment without compromising on performance and safety of perfusion circuit.
• 7.
• Checks the dates of sterilizations, date of expiry of disposables, fluids and drugs before using them.
• 8.
• Checks the integrity of the disposable materials to be used for damage and checks.
• 9.
• Assembles the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit under strict sterile conditions care and precautions.
• Cardiovascular Perfusionist - Senior Cardiovascular Perfusionist is further responsible for protection against
• any damage during perfusion procedure.
• 10.
• Disposes the waste and disposables after every use in a proper manner and following color coding disposable
• bags for life threatening diseases like HIV, hepatitis etc.
• 11.
• Ensures the safety of the patient undergoing procedure by following safety steps avoiding entry of micro and
• macro emboli in the circuit and not allowing the oxygenating device to be empty.
• 12.
• Maintains adequate blood flow for the patent undergoing perfusion procedure.
• Calculating proper blood flow
• according to the protocol and maintaining throughout bypass.
• 13.
• Maintains adequate blood pressure for the patient undergoing CPB within limitations of CPB circuit and
• surgical procedure and physiological limitations of the patient, with extra care for the patients with cerebral
• and renal diseases.
• 14.
• Maintains adequate oxygenation of blood during CPB by assessing patients pre-existing condition and type of
• surgery schedule to choose proper and suitable oxygenating device keeping in mind the age of the patient
• whether adult, pediatric or infant.
• 15.
• Operates suction pumps and devices that remove blood from the operating field or venting and
• decompressing various chambers of the heart.
• Having knowledge and understanding the significance of
• blood trauma by these devices.
• 16.
• Maintains and regulates blood temperatures and thereby patient s body temperature.
• Safe use of adequate
• temperature gradients when cooling or re-warming and using the proper devices to accomplish the
• procedure safely.
• 17.
• Monitors various parameters and in-line devices for the patient's absolute safety:
• Electrocardiogram.
• Arterial Blood pressure.
• Central venous and LA pressures.
• Aortic cannula pressure.
• Patient temperatures rectal and skin.
• Venous blood and arterial blood temperatures.
• Oxygen flow.
• Blood flow rate.
• Cardiac Index.
• Myocardial protection temperature.
• Aortic cross clamp time.
• Bypass time.
• Heparin time.
• ACT Laboratory (Pre-bypass).
• 18.
• Intra-Aortic balloon pump and cell saver.
• Kidney perfusion for renal transplants etc.
• 19.
• Educates patients and their families about health conditions, treatments and preventative measures if
• applicable.
• 20.

Duties