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The Society of Perfusionists was formed in 1974 and its main objectives are to promote the advancement of perfusion technology and to represent the interests of Clinical Perfusionists.
A Clinical Perfusionist is a blood circulation specialist who fulfils a unique role in the field of cardiac surgery. S/he operates heart and lung bypass equipment during heart surgery to keep the patient alive while the surgeon is repairing the heart. During heart surgery the Clinical Perfusionist is totally in charge of the patient’s blood circulation. The patient’s blood enters the heart and lung bypass equipment and is processed by removing carbon dioxide and oxygenating the blood, and finally, after correcting its temperature, it is then returned via a pump back to the patient’s arterial tree. During the procedure, the Clinical Perfusionist is required to manage the patient’s temperature, blood gases, pressures, flows, haematology, electrolytes and other physiological parameters.
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