Perfusion Technology

Some surgical procedures cannot be performed while the heart is beating, in such cases heart's functions have to be taken over by external machinery. Here comes the role of a Percussionist to operate the heart lung machine. A heart-lung machine is used to keep the patients blood flowing until the heart can be restarted. During open heart surgery, patients heart is stopped and blood is diverted away from the heart and lungs into the heart-lung machine which oxygenates the blood and returns it to the patient. The heart-lung machine ensures that the breathing and circulation of the patient is adequately maintained during the process of surgery, and performs the functions of the heart by circulating oxygenated blood throughout the patient's body. In India, Cardiovascular perfusion is done by people with varying qualification and experience. Earlier the percussionists job was done by assistant surgeons, then later by theatre assistants but with the advancement of Oxygenators in the heart lung machine, trained hands became a necessity for the continuous monitoring and maintenance of desired Oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. It is only since the last two decades that there has been specialised training in the field as well as a demand for trained or qualified percussionists. Perfusion technology is an essential part of this process, and percussionists are hired to monitor the processes.

Job prospects:
This career has a wide scope in ever expanding health care services and with growth of multi-specialty hospitals. Increase in heart related illness and cardiac surgeries has resulted in job openings in this field. It is a demanding but eventually very rewarding career in the field of medicine.
Perfusionist's mainly work in operating rooms in hospitals and surgical centers during heart and lung surgery, they also work in ICUs. The perfusionist keeps the surgical team informed of the patient's condition throughout the surgery. One of the main roles performed by perfusionist is to operate the heart-lung machine that keeps a patient alive during serious procedures such as open-heart surgery.
Perfusionists are also key personnel in placing and managing patients on ventricular assist devices as a bridge to recovery or heart transplantation and supporting patients receiving lung or liver transplants. Their work hours vary as they must answer the call of surgical and medical emergencies when needed. In this sense, a career as a perfusionist means committing to be available at all times.
Perfusionists work in several different environments, but they are usually employed by hospitals. They typically work during the week and are frequently on call for emergency procedures on weekends and nights. Individual surgeons and companies that supply facilities with perfusion services employ them in various roles. With advanced education, perfusionists can go in for teaching, conduct research, and work for perfusion equipment suppliers as sales and marketing executives for perfusion products. Those with experience in the field can even enter management field- these perfusionists who manage departments oversee budgets, equipment purchases, hiring and staff scheduling.