Define Perfusion

Perfusion is the process by which a patient's blood is passed through machines and artificially pumped back into body tissues during surgeries when the heart or other body organs are not functioning.

Etymology

Perfusion originates from the Latin word "perfundere." The prefix "per" means "through," while the meaning of "fundere" is "to pour."

Cell Salvage

Specialists offer a variety of cardiovascular services related to perfusion, including cell salvage, a procedure used during blood transfusions and cardiopulmonary, or open heart, bypass surgeries.

Extra-Corporeal Circulation

Extra-corporeal circulation, or ECC, is another term used to describe the perfusion process. The phrase encompasses any activity requiring your blood to be artificially circulated outside of your body.

Specialists

Perfusionists are medical professionals specifically trained to assist during open heart surgeries. They are responsible for operating and monitoring the heart-lung machines used to oxygenate and return a patient's blood during the surgical procedure and must be proficient in chemistry, physics, anatomy, physiology and electronics.

Considerations

Perfusion procedures are commonly used during organ transplant surgeries and in patients suffering heart attacks or heart failure, smoker's lung or coronary artery disease.

References

• What is Perfusion?
• Perfusion Services
• What is a Cardiovascular Perfusionist?

Resources

• Autologous Cell Salvage